Archimedes ''Heat Ray''

By Crusader1307

Long speculated at by Historians, Engineering Genius Archimedes, was known to have purportedly crafted various “engines” to defend Greek Cities involved with The Second Punic Wars (2nd B.C.). One of his “speculated” devices was “The Heat Ray” (sometimes called “The Burning Glass”). Said to have been a “parabolic reflector”, this device was a huge piece of glass (possible 100 to 200 feet in diameter). Mounted in a wooden frame with counterweights to adjust the glass with the Sun, the theory was to focus the Sunlight on a series of mirrors (hundreds in fact). This “energy” would then be “directed outward” (onto the Glass). The resulting magnification would produce an invisible “ray” of intense and burning Sunlight. Concentrated enough, enemy ships (wooden) and sails (canvas), would be burned (set on fire) – often at great distances!. A primitive “Death Ray” of sorts, modern attempts to re-construct “The Ray” (and to see if it would indeed “burn” an enemy ship). Most attempts failed due to the time needed to maintain a constant light beam on a “moving” target. Still, it was “said” to have been used on enemy ships trying to enter Syracuse's Port Harbor.