The Greek mathematician Archimedes (c. 287–c. 212 BC) is widely regarded as the “Father of Mathematics.”
This title is attributed to him due to his significant and groundbreaking contributions, which included:
• Anticipating modern calculus and analysis by applying infinitesimals and the method of exhaustion to derive and rigorously prove geometric theorems, such as the area of a circle and the surface area and volume of a sphere.
• Deriving an approximation of pi (\pi).
• Founding theoretical mechanics with works like On the Equilibrium of Planes (including the law of the lever) and hydrostatics (including Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy).
A Note on Euclid
While Archimedes is often called the Father of Mathematics for his advanced concepts and pioneering methods, another Greek mathematician, Euclid (fl. 300 BC), is specifically known as the “Father of Geometry.”
• Euclid’s monumental work, The Elements, was the most influential and successful mathematics textbook of all time, establishing the foundations of geometry that dominated the field for centuries using a formal system of definitions, axioms, postulates, and theorems.
The video below discusses the famous bathtub story associated with Archimedes.
Discover why Archimedes is called the Father of Mathematics. Learn about his life, famous inventions, major discoveries, and lasting impact on geometry, physics, and modern science.
Many brilliant minds have shaped the world of mathematics, but one name stands out above all: Archimedes of Syracuse. Known for his genius in geometry, physics, and invention, Archimedes made discoveries that continue to influence science and mathematics even today.
Archimedes: The Father of Mathematics
Archimedes, born around 287 BCE in Syracuse, Greece, is known as the Father of Mathematics. He was not only a mathematician but also a physicist, inventor, and astronomer. His theories on geometry, levers, buoyancy, and measurement of shapes made him one of the greatest scientific minds in history.
Why is Archimedes Called the Father of Mathematics?
Archimedes is called the Father of Mathematics because he developed fundamental mathematical principles that are still used today. He discovered formulas to calculate area, volume, and surface area of shapes like spheres, cylinders, and cones.
Life and Work of Archimedes
Archimedes spent most of his life in Syracuse, a Greek city on the island of Sicily. He studied in Alexandria, Egypt, where he met other scholars and expanded his mathematical knowledge.
His passion for solving practical problems led to many inventions and scientific theories that were far ahead of his time. He used mathematics to explain real-world phenomena — from floating bodies to the movement of levers.
Discoveries and Inventions of Archimedes
- Archimedes’ Screw – A machine used to lift water for irrigation and drainage.
- Law of the Lever – Explained how balance and force work using levers.
- Principle of Buoyancy – Stated that any object submerged in fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
- Mathematical Proofs – Used logical steps to prove theorems, forming a foundation for mathematical reasoning.
Legacy of Archimedes
Archimedes’ discoveries changed the way the world understood mathematics and science. His logical and analytical methods influenced later mathematicians like Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei.
Even today, Archimedean principles are used in engineering, architecture, and scientific research. His inventions inspired machines, pulleys, and early ideas of physics that shaped the foundation of modern technology.
The interesting life of archimedes and Euraka moments
The life of Archimedes (c. 287–c. 212 BC) is one of the most fascinating and consequential in the history of science, filled with genius, practical invention, and the famous “Eureka!” moment.
Here is a look at his life and the famous incident:
The Interesting Life of Archimedes
Archimedes was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer, widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the classical age.
• Early Life and Education: He was born and lived most of his life in Syracuse, Sicily (a Greek colony at the time). His father was an astronomer named Phidias, suggesting he came from a well-educated, possibly aristocratic, family. He likely traveled to Alexandria, Egypt—the intellectual capital of the world—to study with the successors of Euclid, where he formed personal connections with other great minds like Eratosthenes.
• A Mind Ahead of His Time: He made profound theoretical breakthroughs in mathematics, including:
• Developing methods that strongly anticipated integral calculus centuries before Newton and Leibniz.
• Deriving the formula for the volume and surface area of a sphere.
• Calculating a very accurate approximation of pi (\pi).
• The Practical Inventor: Archimedes was also a brilliant engineer. Among his credited inventions are:
• The Archimedes Screw: A device for raising water, still used today for irrigation.
• Compound Pulleys and Levers: Leading to his famous quote: “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth.”
• War Machines: During the Roman siege of Syracuse (part of the Second Punic War), he designed devastating defensive weapons, including enhanced catapults and crane-like grappling hooks (the “Claw of Archimedes”) that reportedly terrified the Roman general Marcellus and delayed the city’s capture for years.
• His Death: The city of Syracuse eventually fell in 212 BC. According to one famous, though perhaps apocryphal, account, Archimedes was so deeply absorbed in a geometric diagram he had drawn in the sand that he failed to heed a Roman soldier’s command. When the soldier demanded he stop his work, Archimedes allegedly replied, “Do not disturb my circles!” and was killed on the spot, despite the general Marcellus having given explicit orders for his life to be spared.
The “Eureka! Eureka!” Story
The most famous anecdote about Archimedes concerns his discovery of the principle of buoyancy, the incident that gave the world the word “Eureka” (Greek for “I have found it!”).
1. The King’s Problem: King Hieron II of Syracuse commissioned a new gold crown as an offering to the gods. He gave a specific weight of pure gold to the goldsmith, but later suspected that the craftsman had cheated him by mixing cheaper silver with the gold and keeping some of the original pure gold for himself.
2. The Challenge: The king tasked Archimedes with determining if the crown was pure gold without melting or damaging it—a seemingly impossible problem, as the crown was an irregular shape, making its volume difficult to measure.
3. The Breakthrough: While contemplating the problem, Archimedes went to the public baths. As he sank into the tub, he observed that the water level rose, and he realized that the volume of water displaced was exactly equal to the volume of the part of his body he submerged. This provided the long-sought-after method: Volume of an irregular object = Volume of displaced water.
4. The Triumph: Archimedes instantly realized that if he compared the water displaced by the crown to the water displaced by a lump of pure gold of the exact same weight as the crown:
• If the crown was pure gold, their volumes would be identical, and they would displace the same amount of water.
• If the crown had been adulterated with lighter silver, it would need a greater volume to achieve the same weight, thus displacing more water than the pure gold block.
5. The Exclamation: Overcome with excitement, Archimedes leaped out of the bath and, forgetting to put his clothes on, ran naked through the streets of Syracuse shouting: “Eureka! Eureka!”
6. The Result: He tested the crown and proved the goldsmith had indeed committed fraud, securing his place in history and establishing the fundamental concept of hydrostatics known today as Archimedes’ Principle.
Please like subscribe comment your precious comments on universe discoveries
Full article source google
Universe discoveries 
🙏🌹
Aum Shanti
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a wonderfully comprehensive and engaging write-up on Archimedes — a true celebration of one of history’s greatest minds. 🌟📐
Your writing beautifully balances historical context, scientific insight, and human interest, making it accessible to readers of all backgrounds. I especially appreciate how you highlight not only his mathematical brilliance — from calculus precursors to geometry — but also his practical ingenuity, like the Archimedes’ Screw and his explorations of levers and buoyancy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks sir archimedes was a truely great mind 🎸and the eureka moment was astonishing 🤣I have heard and read about archimedes from childhood and now it was pleasure to write ✍️ on him 🎸
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very interesting read. Time travelled back to ‘school time”. Thanks for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person