Scientists & Inventors · Ancient World
Archimedes’s Last Words
“Do not disturb my circles!”— Archimedes, c. 212 BC
Who Was Archimedes?
Archimedes was the greatest mathematician of antiquity, known for work on buoyancy, pi, and the lever. He defended Syracuse using ingenious war machines.
The Final Moments
Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier during the Sack of Syracuse, allegedly while drawing mathematical diagrams in the sand.
Are These Words Verified?
Multiple ancient sources including Plutarch report Archimedes' final words to a Roman soldier during Syracuse's fall (c. 212 BC). However, these accounts were written centuries later and may be apocryphal.
Sources
- biography Plutarch's Parallel Lives
- academic Livy's History of Rome
Legacy
Archimedes' contributions were centuries ahead of his time; his Eureka moment is one of science's most famous stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Archimedes’s last words?
“Do not disturb my circles!”
How did Archimedes die?
Archimedes died on c. 212 BC at the age of 75. Cause of death: Killed by Roman soldier.
Were Archimedes’s last words documented?
Multiple ancient sources including Plutarch report Archimedes' final words to a Roman soldier during Syracuse's fall (c. 212 BC). However, these accounts were written centuries later and may be apocryphal.
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