Before Eureka The novel takes the young Archimedes of Syracuse (in Sicily) from the age of nine until he leaves for Alexandria. The many discoveries Archimedes makes in his adult life are prefigured by life-threatening adventures as a child and a teenager-laws of hydrostatics, levers, balance points, and counting theory, and inventions such as concentrating sunlight, screws, catapults, and other devices. These help Archimedes escape sacrifice to a god, drowning, earthquakes, kidnapping, battles, and direct attacks on his life. He is also involved with the well-known great events of the day,...