The Roman Siege of Syracuse

The Siege of Syracuse
The siege of Syracuse put the important Sicilian city in Roman hands and led to the death of the famous mathematician Archimedes.

Pennell on the Second Punic War
Pennell explains the events leading to the Siege of Syracuse in terms of the Second Punic War.

Siege of Syracuse
Theodor Mommsen writes the history of the Siege of Syracuse in connection with the Hannibalic War.

Marcellus
Read this biography of Marcellus, leader of the forces of Rome against Syracuse.

Archimedes
Archimedes of Syracuse, a mathematician who determined the exact value of pi, is also known for his strategic role in ancient war. He was killed, not so much by accident, as by mistake during the conflict with the Romans led by Marcellus.

Catapult
There were earlier catapults, but Archimedes is credited with creating fantastically powerful ones for the siege.

Gillian Bradshaw's 'The Sand-Reckoner' - Reviewed by Irene Hahn
This well researched book is about the young Archimedes and the first siege of Syracuse at 264 B.C., during the first Punic War.

Map of Syracuse, Sicily
Syracuse, located on the east coast of Sicily, was a colony of Corinth, one of the Greek city-states.

Theater of Syracuse
The great theater of Syracuse was built under the Syracusan tyrant Hiero (Hieron) I (r. c. 478-466 B.C.) by architect Democopus Myrilla.