How Archimedes Helped Defend Syracuse Against the Romans
During the Second Punic War, Roman troops landed in Sicily. Syracuse sided with Carthage in this war and, therefore, came under attack by Rome in 213 BC. Archimedes was already 75 years old, and obviously, he could not stand on the fortress wall, defending the city from enemies. However, the war machines built by the brilliant scientist caused the Romans considerable trouble during the siege of Syracuse. This siege lasted more than a year. The Romans attempted to storm the city several times, but each time, the courage of the defenders and the ingenious mechanisms of Archimedes repelled them.
Consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus commanded the Roman army and fleet and besieged Syracuse. He knew that 200 years prior, Greek forces had attempted to storm the city but could not overcome its high and strong walls. Therefore, he decided to attack Syracuse from the sea. During the first assault, he sent 60 quinqueremes (ships that Greeks called penteres) into the harbor of Syracuse. Some of these huge ships were equipped with ballistae, bombarding the city’s fortifications. Others were paired and carried sambucae (long siege ladders), battering rams, and siege towers.
