1-152-239 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Archimedes (c287-212 BC), Ancient Greek mathematician and inventor. He is measuring the purity of gold in the crown of Hieron II of Syracuse. Born in Syracuse on the island of Sicily, Archimedes is one of the most celebrated scientists of the ancient world. He is probably most famous for his shout of 'Eureka' when he realised that the level of water in his bath rose when he got into it, as shown here. Archimedes' major contribution to mathematics was his discovery of formulae for the areas and volumes of spheres, cylinders, parabolas and other plane and solid figures. The methods he used anticipated the theories of integration that were developed 1800 years later. He also pioneered the science of hydrostatics, the study of the pressure and equilibrium of fluids. The Archimedean screw developed by him as a means of raising water is still used for irrigation purposes today.