Archimedes was a Greek mathematician, inventor, and scientist born around 287 B.C., and died in 212 B.C. in Syracuse, Sicily, during the siege of Syracuse, as the city was being captured by Roman forces during the Second Punic War. A Roman soldier killed him not knowing his identity, eventhough his life had been spared. He is best known for his contributions to mathematics, particularly in geometry and mechanics, and for inventions like the Archimedes’ screw and the principle of buoyancy.