Star Wars
This was Archimedes' weapon that resembled the death ray from Star Wars
Although there is no scientific evidence that the Greek mathematician devised such a weapon, some classical texts make reference to it.
The Galactic Empire is holding captive Leia Organa, one of the rebel leaders fighting to end Palpatine’s tyranny. Darth Vader has tortured her, but has failed to get her to reveal the location of the rebel base. As punishment, Moff Tarkin decides to test the ultimate weapon against Alderaan, the princess’s planet: the Death Star launches its death ray and the system explodes into a thousand pieces. Was there a similar weapon throughout human history? Was the device supposedly invented by Archimedes a reality?
Nuclear bombs can cause destruction of gigantic magnitude, but the alleged idea of the mathematician Archimedes seems closer to the concept used by George Lucas to design the imperial weapon of mass destruction par excellence. According to classical sources, the 3rd century BC scientist devised the heat ray as a method of protecting the island of Syracuse from continuous Roman attacks. While it is taken for granted that his catapults may have existed, there are more doubts as to whether the Hellenic genius ever planned or implemented such an invention.
What do classical sources and scientific experiments say?
The problem with classical sources is that they are not always reliable, sometimes because they are not supported by empirical data and sometimes because they were written years or centuries after the historical event in question. In this particular case there is no material evidence (via Real Clear Science) that Archimedes invented or built these machines. Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) wrote that during the siege of Syracuse, Archimedes destroyed enemy ships with fire. Artemius of Tralles (6th century AD) claimed that the mathematician had created a contraption that used mirrors to burn the majestic Roman ships.
The concept of the heat ray is similar to that of the magnifying glass that reflects heat, combusts and ignites leaves. Scientists have tried to reproduce Archimedes' hypothetical invention on several occasions: Greek Ioannis Sakkas in the 1970s gathered 60 sailors holding mirrors and directed the focal point toward a ship, which was supposedly consumed. Several decades later, scientists at MIT used 127 mirrors and managed to burn a model of a Roman ship on campus. However, this same organization tried it again in 2010 and tried it with a recreation: smoke came out but no flame. They concluded that the heat ray is possible but impractical, let alone full-scale.
Whether the heat ray existed or not, Archimedes died during the siege of Syracuse at the hands of a Roman soldier, despite orders that he was not to be harmed. Legend has it that the old man was on the beach plotting geometry problems in the sand. When the invaders asked him to meet Marcellus, the general commanding the invasion, the Greek replied that he would first solve the mathematical problem. He met his death in response.
Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!