Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Printable Version +- RomanArmyTalk (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat) +-- Forum: Research Arena (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Greek Military History & Archaeology (https://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/forumdisplay.php?fid=9) +--- Thread: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes (/showthread.php?tid=9468) Pages:
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Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - RUBICON - 05-21-2007 I have just finished watching an episode of Mythbusters who tonight were attempting to re create a heat laser. Apparently, Romans created a device of highly polished mirrors (brass I would imagine) and directing it at the sun, the parabola would create a heat beam (much as a magnifying glass) which was used to burn enemy ships up to 100 feet away. (this measurement seems a bit close for my liking but I may have joined the episode late). They (Mythbusters) had no proof but any mention of polished mirrors being used was some 400 years later than the era they were re enacting. Has anyone heard of this famous heat laser. The myth claims it was used to destroyed a 100 ships in one battle! They mentioned Polybius but taht was enough to suggest it was an exaggeration! Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Nicholas Gaukroger - 05-21-2007 I think the reference is about an invention of Archimedes used against the Romans at the siege of Syracuse. IIRC of course Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Decimus Apollonius - 05-21-2007 Thats a wild idea! I caught the previews for that episode but didn't get a chance to see it. :x Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Praefectusclassis - 05-21-2007 Oh, Discovery will repeat it sometime. Stefano, do a search for mythbusters here on RAT. It's been discussed before and the source was mentioned by Jona. Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Matt Lukes - 05-21-2007 Yup, it was Greek, not Roman- and others have tried it too as I recall and got some minor result. I've seen that Mythbusters episode a bunch of times now, so they will repeat it again I'm sure Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Aurelianus - 05-21-2007 Yes, it is the story of Archimedes and his actions against the Romans at the siege of Syracuse. AFAIK there are some calculations and tests which show that it is not possible to inflame with ancient mirrors a ship on an acceptable distance. Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Josef - 05-21-2007 didnt Archimedes also make that big hand that could grab ships and smash them too the walls? or is that a myth too? Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Memmia - 05-21-2007 Quote:didnt Archimedes also make that big hand that could grab ships and smash them too the walls? or is that a myth too? Salve, That was known as the 'claw'. I'm sure there was a program where they challenged a couple of historians to build a working model of this, but I don't think they managed it. I think that myth has yet to be 'busted'. :wink: Was Archimedes stabbed by a Roman soldier who grew impatient with him refusing to leave a buiding before he finished his maths calculations ? I bet that soldier got his butt kicked by the centurion afterwards! Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Memmia - 05-21-2007 P.S. Here's a link to Plutarch's description of the claw Plutarch. Claw Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - RUBICON - 05-21-2007 Yes, the tests did show it would not work. they had to have the ship standing still so the heat beam could be effective! "excuse me skipper, could you just stand still for a second! thankyou!" I must admit though, nice idea! Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Jona Lendering - 05-21-2007 Quote:It's been discussed before and the source was mentioned by Jona.Yep, we discussed it here. The source of the story about the "heat ray" is Anthemius of Tralles, a sixth-century architect, who is best known for building the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. He published his wild story in his Paradoxography. To the best of my knowledge, no Archimedes-scholar (Dijksterhuis in the first place, and now the delightful book by Napolitani) takes the story seriously, because it is not mentioned in reliable sources like Livy, Plutarch, and Polybius. Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - Robert Vermaat - 05-22-2007 I'm not sure if this is OT but for now I'll put in the Greek section as it's an invention by Archimedes. Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - geala - 05-22-2007 Quote: ... Just a sidenote: did I miss something? I thought Polybios (who says nothing about the "laser" but most of his books dealing with the time after 216 are lost, or not?) was one of the most reliable authors of the time? Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - D B Campbell - 05-22-2007 Philip Rance gave a most entertaining lecture on the subject at the Second International Conference on Hellenistic Warfare, held in Valencia (Spain) in October 2005. Here's his summary: Quote:The Roman conquest of Syracuse in 213-11 BC is recorded as one of the greatest set-piece sieges of the Hellenistic age, not least because of the contribution of the mathematician and engineer Archimedes to the defence of his native city. Among the many machines and devices with which he is credited, a tradition maintains that Archimedes burned the Roman fleet by directing the sun's rays using a mirror or mirrors. This tale has prompted many speculative reconstructions, and did so even in Antiquity, for the most part undertaken by scientists and historians of science seeking to determine by what means Archimedes might have devised a solar ray-gun.Unfortunately, the conference proceedings are not yet published. Re: Greek Laser of Death - Archimedes - hoplite14gr - 05-22-2007 Burning mirrors are debatable but e working model of the "claw" was reconstructed in the university Sicily from a group composed of historians and engineers. Kind regards |