Archimedes was born and raised in the Greek city-state of Syracuse on the island of Sicily. Archimedes is thought to be relative to Hiero II, who was king of Syracuse during Archimedes life. He was vey good friends with Hiero I. Archimedes father was an astronomer named Phidias. Archimedes attended school in Alexandria. He studied poetry, politics, astronomy, mathematics, music, art, and military tactics. When he was a teen he sailed to Egypt to attend a school founded by Euclid and studied astronomy, physics, and mathematics. Archimedes teacher Conon of Samos taught him many things about science and life and was one of Archimedes greatest influences. His studies from school in Egypt started the rest of his scientific career.

One of Archimedes best known inventions is the Water Screw. It consisted of a spiral blade inside a tube with a handle that when turned would bring water up from a lower place to a higher spot. He also invented the catapult, the lever, compound pulley, and a giant mirror system for burning boats of invading armies. Some of his mathematical feats were discovering Pi, different measurements of circles, and volumes of solids.