Chapter 13, The End of Archimedes Summary and Analysis

Marcellus laid siege to Syracuse for three years. He also took over large parts of Sicily and killed Hippocrates along with eight thousand of his soldiers. Marcellus planned for Syracuse, noticing in 212 B.C. a wall and tower poorly guarded and had his men build ladders to scale the walls.

The Syracusans were too confident in Archimedes's machines and lost focus during the Feast to Diana; Roman troops entered the city without their knowing it. The soldiers sounded trumpets, letting lose in the city, creating panic. Marcellus was sad that such a beautiful city would be destroyed, since plundering was the right of soldiers. He told his men, however, to leave the citizens of Syracuse free and ordered them not to hurt Archimedes, because he wanted to meet him.

Archimedes didn't notice the...