Archimedes: A Detailed Biography

Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287–212 BCE) was the greatest mathematician, physicist, and engineer of antiquity — often called the father of mathematical physics. His discoveries in geometry, hydrostatics, and mechanics were so advanced that they were not surpassed for 1,800 years. Inventor of the Archimedes screw and legendary defender of Syracuse, his life ended tragically during the Roman conquest. This biography covers his Sicilian childhood, famous “Eureka” moment, war machines against Rome, and enduring genius, as documented by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the Livius.org, and the MacTutor History of Mathematics.

Early Life in Syracuse

Birth and Education

Born around 287 BCE in the Greek city-state of Syracuse, Sicily, Archimedes was the son of astronomer Phidias. He studied in Alexandria, Egypt — the intellectual capital of the Hellenistic world — under successors of Euclid, as detailed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The “Eureka” Moment and Buoyancy

King Hiero II asked Archimedes to determine if a crown was pure gold without damaging it. While bathing, he realised displaced water volume equals the submerged object’s volume — and ran naked through the streets shouting “Eureka!” (“I have found it!”). This became Archimedes’ Principle of buoyancy, as recounted by the Roman architect Vitruvius.

Mathematical Masterpieces

Measurement of a Circle and The Sand Reckoner

Archimedes calculated π to unprecedented accuracy (between 3 10/71 and 3 1/7). In The Sand Reckoner he devised a system to express astronomically large numbers — proving the universe could be counted even if filled with sand, as preserved by the Archimedes Project – Harvard.

Inventions and Engineering

Archimedes Screw and Lever

He invented the Archimedes screw for raising water (still used today) and famously said, “Give me a place to stand and I will move the Earth” about the power of levers. He designed compound pulleys that could move massive ships single-handedly, as documented by the Science History Institute.

Defence of Syracuse (213–212 BCE)

During the Second Punic War, Archimedes built war machines for Syracuse against Rome: giant claws that lifted ships out of water, catapults, and (legendarily) mirrors focusing sunlight to burn sails. Syracuse held out for two years, as recorded by the History.com.

Personal Life

Little is known — he never married and had no recorded children. He was known for absent-mindedness: forgetting to eat while working on problems.

Death and Legacy

Archimedes’s Enduring Impact

When Syracuse fell in 212 BCE, Roman general Marcellus ordered Archimedes spared. A soldier found him drawing geometric figures in the sand and killed him when he refused to leave until finishing his proof. His last words: “Do not disturb my circles!” His tomb in Syracuse bore a sphere inscribed in a cylinder — his favourite theorem, as preserved by the Cicero’s account.

Frequently Asked Questions About Archimedes

Why Is Archimedes Famous?

For the “Eureka” moment, lever, screw, and being the greatest scientist of antiquity.

Did Archimedes Really Shout “Eureka!”?

According to Vitruvius — yes, and ran home naked.

Where Was Archimedes Born?

Syracuse, Sicily, c. 287 BCE.

What Is the Archimedes Principle?

Buoyancy — foundation of hydrostatics.

Did Archimedes Invent the Screw Pump?

Yes — still used worldwide.

Did Archimedes Have a Death Ray?

Legend says yes — modern tests inconclusive.

How Did Archimedes Die?

Killed by Roman soldier in 212 BCE — “Do not disturb my circles!”