The Death of Archimedes. The skill and science of Archimedes; the famous mathematician; were of great assistance at the siege of Syracuse in 212 BC against the military engines of the Romans. When the city was taken by treachery the population were massacred. Archimedes; being intent on solving a problem; did not reply to a question of a soldier and was killed; to the grief of Marcellus; the Roman commander. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson; c.1920). Note: Image has been digitally enhanced to facilitate repro.