The human mind can be compared to a deep whirlpool in which every soul finds its way, by selection, arrangement, and operation of the 4 elements (fire, water, earth, wind) within sets. It is compared to like deciphering a puzzle or game in which a big square (the mind) is being cut into pieces and shuffled.
The whirlpool tumbles all around of each individual so that he/she can neither stand on the bottom nor swim up to the top.
Archi-Medes used to demand just one firm and immovable point in order to shift the entire whirlpool. We can hope for great things if we manage to find just one thing that is certain and unshakeable.
Archimedes was born in 287 BC in the port of Syrac-Usa on the island of Sicily in the colony of Magna Greecia. His father was Ph-Idias, who was an astronomer about whom nothing is known. Except for the period of his life where he attended school in Alexandria at Euclid's, he spent all his life at Syrac-Usa. This is the only information obtained from Archi-Medes' work "The Sand Reckoner."
In those times, in the absence of paper or blackboards, Archi-Medes used 'dust, ashes' or any other available surface to draw his geometric figures.
His insight and his understanding of simple physical phenomena let him develops concepts of abstract mathematics and physics. He described the concept of 'infinity' and showed the process he used to derive geometrical properties from the ways in which objects were balanced.
He is also known for shouting 'eureka' that today we shout when we get any good idea, after running naked from his bath through the streets of the state-city declaring that he had discovered a method determining the volume of bodies from the amount of water displaced when objects were submerged. He used to get so engrossed in his work that sometimes he forgot to eat. It is alleged that he drew figures on his body after bathing and applying olive oil to erase them.
His practical applications of mathematics and physics let, the people of his time, to create war machines. Weapons designed by Archi-Medes for King Hiero II, were used in the defense of Syrac-Usa from Roman invaders.
The city-state eventually fell under the siege, during the 2nd Punic War, and Archimedes was captured by the Roman forces after two year siege. Archi-Medes was researching a mathematical diagram, when a Roman soldier ordered him to meet the Roman General Marcus (who was engaged in the siege of Syrac-Usa). But Archi-Medes was so deep into his research that declined the order saying that he had to finish his diagram. Furious, the Roman soldier killed Archi-Medes at the age of 75.
General Marcus was angered by the death of Archi-Medes, because he didn't wish him any harm.
His tomb is famous for it depicts his famous diagram, a sphere in a cylinder of the exact height and diameter. He had earlier proved that the volume and surface area of the sphere would be 2/3 of that of the cylinder.
In 75 BC, 137 years after the death of Archi-Medes, it was Cicero who gave respect and attention to Archi-Medes' tomb, which had been long neglected. Cicero had heard about the tomb, but it took a long time to find it, as the local populace were unable to help. Ultimately he found it at the Agri-Gent-Ine Gate in Syrac-Usa, covered in bushes. He cleaned up the tomb and gave it its due respect.
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