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From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Hear, Hear to  Peter Mikes
Message-ID: <262@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 18:27:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.262
Posted: Thu Aug 15 18:27:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 04:09:36 EDT
References: <466@sri-arpa.ARPA> <161@prometheus.UUCP> <591@mmintl.UUCP> <548@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr
Lines: 23

> I believe that Archimedes is supposed to have used a sort of "death
> ray" on enemy ships (a line of defenders with mirrors was alleged to
> have focussed sunlight on invading ships, setting them afire).
> It may not have been Archimedes, and I believe there is question about
> whether it really happened, but the idea is certainly very old.
> 
> 	Bill Jefferys  8-%

Archimedes it was, striving to defend Syracuse.  In 1974 or so an
experiment was carried out by somebody (this is from my recollection of
newspaper accounts at the time so don't expect accurate details!) and a
team of mirror-holders were able to ignite a target carried on some
vessel (a rowboat?).  So it's conceivable the legend is true.

By the way, the legend concludes that the invaders returned on a cloudy
day (sneaky SOBs).  A soldier found Archimedes sketching geometrical
designs in the dirt.  Archimedes said, "Don't mess up my figures."
Those were his last words.
-- 
D Gary Grady
Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC  27706
(919) 684-3695
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