Page 37 - Resources

There was much turmoil in the area during those years. In 275 BC, Hiero--a relative

of Phidias--led a military takeover of Syracuse.

Sent to Alexandria

When he was in his teens, Archimedes was sent to Alexandria, Egypt to study

mathematics with teachers who had learned from Euclid. Not only was this as a way
to gain his education, but his father also felt it was better to send his son away from
the warfare being waged around Syracuse.

Invented pump

While in Alexandria, he invented a device now known as Archimedes' screw. It was
first used to pump water out of ships and was later used in irrigation. This type of

water pump is still used in many parts of the world today.

Archimedes Screw easily pumps water to higher level

Returned to Syracuse

Archimedes had completed his studies and returned home from Alexandria and spent
the rest of his life in Syracuse. Unfortunately, there was more warfare.

In 265 BC, Hiero is declared king of Syracuse. Then in 264 BC, First Punic War
between Carthage and Rome for control of Sicily began. Syracuse was initially allied
with Carthage against Rome. A year later, after the Romans threaten Syracuse, Hiero
signed peace treaty with Rome.

In the years that followed, Archimedes developed a close, friendly relationship with
Hiero, the king of Syracuse, and his son Gelo. The king would often ask Archimedes to
solve some difficult problem for him, and he soon considered Archimedes a "national

treasure."

Explained levers and pulleys

In 260 BC, when he was 27 years old, Archimedes explained how lever and pulleys
worked. Levers are one of the basic tools and were probably used in prehistoric
times, but Archimedes' explanation facilitated their use. He later demonstrated to
the king how effective levers and pulleys can be employed to move large objects.

(Greek Grandeur, Hebrew Heart) 35