Annie Dillard | The Death of Archimedes
“During the Roman assault on Syracuse, Archimedes, oblivious to the tumult around him, traced parabolas in the sand. When a soldier found him and tried to drag him to the Roman general, Archimedes said, “Pray, do not disturb my proof.” Unwilling to wait, evidently, the soldier killed him on the spot.”
Portrait of the ancient Greek mathematician and physicist Archimedes (c. 287-212 BC)
