Archimedes

Archimedes was one of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world. He was born in Syracuse, Sicily, around 287 BC. He discovered important ideas about floating, levers, and circles. He also built amazing machines.

Early Life

Archimedes grew up in Syracuse, a Greek city on the island of Sicily. His father was an astronomer. He may have studied in Alexandria, Egypt. He spent most of his life in Syracuse doing science and math.

Big Discoveries

Archimedes figured out why some things float and others sink. He discovered the value of pi and how to calculate areas of circles. He built war machines to defend Syracuse from Roman soldiers. He also invented the Archimedes screw for lifting water.

Fun Facts

• Legend says Archimedes shouted 'Eureka!' when he figured out how to measure volume using water.
• He built giant mirrors to set enemy ships on fire using sunlight.
• His last words were supposedly 'Do not disturb my circles' when a Roman soldier found him.

Did You Know?

The Archimedes screw is still used today to move water and grain. It works by turning a large screw inside a tube. This simple invention is over 2,000 years old.