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 <div id="fb-root"></div><p><img src="https://www.historyhustle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Parigi_griffe-e1539807784176.jpg" alt="Iron claw of Archimedes image" width="1132" height="938" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1100"><br>
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Courtesy of <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Christoph-Baumann-1">Christoph Baumann</a>, studied Ancient History at Heidelberg University</em></p><p>The iron claw of Archimedes to defend the city-walls of Syracuse from naval assault had a devastating effect on the attacking Roman fleet. The Greek historian Polybius described the claw&rsquo;s build and performance:</p><div class="ui_qtext_image_outer">
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<p class="ui_qtext_para">&hellip;<b>let down an iron hand swung on a chain</b>, by which the man who guided the crane, having fastened on some part of the prow where he could get a hold, pressed down the lever of the machine inside the wall; and when he had thus lifted the prow and <b>made the vessel rest upright on its stern</b>, he fastened the lever of his machine so that it could not be moved; and then suddenly slackened the hand and chain by means of a rope and pulley.</p>
<p class="ui_qtext_para">Polybius, Histories, 8.8<a id="cite-phvFc" class="citation_link" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#phvFc">[1]</a></p>
</blockquote><p class="ui_qtext_para">These machines came in use during the Second Punic War in 214 BCE, when the Roman Republic attacked Syracuse with a fleet of 60 ships under the command of Marcus Marcellus. Their impact on the Roman navy was catastrophic:</p><blockquote>
<p class="ui_qtext_para">The result was that <b>many of the vessels heeled over and fell on their sides</b>: some completely capsized; while the greater number, by their prows coming down suddenly from a height, dipped low in the sea, shipped a great quantity of water, and became<b> a scene of the utmost confusion.</b></p>
<p class="ui_qtext_para">Polybius, Histories, 8.8 <a id="cite-BkSjl" class="citation_link" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#BkSjl">[2]</a></p>
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<p class="ui_qtext_para">Florentine architect Giulio Parigi (1571&ndash;1635) likely took the claw too literal in his painting</p>
</blockquote><p class="ui_qtext_para">According to Polybius, the claw was not Archimedes&rsquo; only defensive invention used against the Roman attack. The city-wall was covered with catapults with varying ranges and to defend against landings, the walls had tight gaps to allow archers from within the wall to attack the landing force.</p><p class="ui_qtext_para">Another ingenious invention of Archimedes was a large mirror to set ships ablaze.</p><div class="ui_qtext_image_outer">
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<p class="ui_qtext_para">Again, a painting by Florentine architect Giulio Parigi (1571&ndash;1635)</p>
</blockquote><p class="ui_qtext_para">The Romans thus learned a pricey lesson:</p><blockquote>
<p class="ui_qtext_para">But in this they did not take into account the abilities of Archimedes; nor calculate on the truth that, <b>in certain circumstances, the genius of one man is more effective than any numbers whatever.</b></p>
<p class="ui_qtext_para">Polybius, Histories, 8.5<a id="cite-YhaOm" class="citation_link" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#YhaOm">[3]</a></p>
</blockquote><p class="ui_qtext_para">Such was the end of the Roman attempt at storming Syracuse by sea.</p><p class="qtext_citation_lead">Footnotes</p>
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<p id="phvFc" class="citation"><a class="citation_index" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#cite-phvFc">[1] </a><span class="qlink_container"><a class="external_link" href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0234:book%3D8:chapter%3D8" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-qt-tooltip="tufts.edu" data-tooltip="attached">Polybius, Histories</a></span></p><p id="BkSjl" class="citation"><a class="citation_index" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#cite-BkSjl">[2] </a><span class="qlink_container"><a class="external_link" href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0234:book%3D8:chapter%3D8" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-qt-tooltip="tufts.edu">Polybius, Histories</a></span></p><p id="YhaOm" class="citation"><a class="citation_index" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time#cite-YhaOm">[3] </a><span class="qlink_container"><a class="external_link" href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0234:book%3D8:chapter%3D5&;highlight=archimedes" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-qt-tooltip="tufts.edu">Polybius, Histories</a></span></p><p>&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</p><p>Here&rsquo;s a video of it in action:</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3crV3m3vo_8?rel=0&;showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>
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<p>This originally appeared on <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-most-advanced-ancient-inventions-and-technology-that-were-beyond-their-respective-time">Quora.</a></p><div> 
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