22 min listen
Archimedes and the Siege of Syracuse
ratings:
Length:
44 minutes
Released:
Aug 12, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Dan tells the story of Archimedes, the ancient Greek inventor whose weapons of war protected the town of Syracuse from a Roman army. The Romans laid siege to Syracuse between 213 and 212 BC, attacking by sea and land, but were repelled by the city's defences. The story goes that these included fantastical devices like the Claw of Archimedes, and a 'Death Ray' that would set ships ablaze. Eventually the stalemate broke and the Romans captured the city, but Archimedes' name would survive through the centuries.So who exactly was Archimedes? Can we believe these tall tales of ancient invention? And why did this siege happen anyway? Dan traces the course of Archimedes' life against the backdrop of the Punic Wars to answer these questions, and more.Produced by Dan Snow and edited by Dougal Patmore.PLEASE VOTE NOW! for Dan Snow's History Hit in the British Podcast Awards Listener's Choice category here. Every vote counts, thank you!Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code DANSNOW. Download the app or sign up here.If you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can email us at ds.hh@historyhit.com, we'd love to hear from you!You can take part in our listener survey here.PLEASE VOTE NOW! for Dan Snow's History Hit in the British Podcast Awards Listener's Choice category here. Every vote counts, thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Released:
Aug 12, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
The Last Nuremberg Prosecutor: Ben Ferencz at 102 years old is the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials & a direct witness to the horrors of the Nazi death camps. He shares his life experiences & how we all need to find ways to resolve our differences peacefully. by Dan Snow's History Hit