Where did Leonardo di Vinci get his ideas for his inventions? Perhaps from Archimedes of Syracuse, 1800 years earlier.
In the 1499 Leonardo di Vinci is hired by Cesare Borgia as a military engineer. He begins to work on a steam canon that had originally been an idea of Archimedes 1500 years earlier. Leonardo tells Cesare the story of Archimedes and how he made many discoveries in mathematics and science.
Archimedes visits Alexandria and falls in love with Princess Helena, and in spite of their age difference, they marry and return to Syracuse. Soon Helena gives birth to their only child, a daughter they name Arsinoe.
For nearly fifty years of peace, Syracuse is drawn into the war between Rome and Carthage. Archimedes must use all his vast knowledge to defend Syracuse and his very family.
Cesare offers to purchase the chest of ideas from Leonardo but he declines the offer. Who knows which of Leonardo de Vinci’s inventions were really the brainchild of Archimedes of Syracuse?
Excerpt
Archimedes turns, and scribbles something in the sand. He smooths the sand over, and writes again. He smooths that over, and writes something else. Suddenly shouting, “Eureka! That’s it! I have found it! I’ve done it!”
Archimedes bolts out of the bath, heading for the door. Lagus grabs his own tunic, and pulls it on while picking up Archimedes’ clean tunic, all the while shouting, “Bath Master! Bath Master!”
The Bath Master comes running, “Quit shouting! Here I am.”
Lagus is already heading for the door to catch Archimedes.
“Watch that bar of gold. I’ll be back for it.”
Archimedes runs out of the bathhouse, and into the street causing screams and a few laughs from citizens in the street. Lagus is right on his heels shouting for him to stop. Finally, Lagus is able to get a grip on Archimedes’ hair, and stops. Archimedes’ head jerks back, and he loses his balance, falling backward onto his butt, naked in the street.
“Lagus! What are you doing? Let me go! I have to tell the King. I know how to determine if the crown is solid gold.”
Putting Archimedes’ tunic over his head, “Master, if you go like this, the King will have you arrested.”
“What?”
“You have no clothes on!” answers Lagus.
Looking down, “Oh! Oh! Where are my clothes?”
“Put on your tunic. Besides, the King is probably dining at this hour. Later, when you are properly dressed, you can tell the King.”
“Yes. Yes, of course. I still have to test my theory on the crown.”
“That’s right. We must be presentable for the King. Now let me help you up, and get you home. We will get the gold from the bath on the way.”
Book I of Southern Swallow Series – 12th Century scholar Li K'ai-men takes command of his first official assignments during a time of political unrest and barbarian invasions.
