of the crown and matching it to its volume, we can calculate exactly what the gold, silver or bronze content is.”
Archimedes turned to Ptolemy. “The crown isn’t melted, the gold content is measured, and your lighthouse is built.”
Ptahhotep jumped on the assumption. “You have not determined the gold content yet.”
“ No more discussion,” Ptolemy ordered. “Complete your investigation Archimedes.”
Under the intense gaze of the group, Berenike handed the crown to Archimedes, who gently lowered it into the bowl. He was careful not to drop it or let his fingers break the plane of the water surface. Either mistake would impair the accuracy of the results. Water trickled over the edges of the bowl at the same rate the crown was lowered in until the crown clinked when it hit the bottom. Archimedes waited several moments before he removed the bowl, lifted the plate, and meticulously poured the water into the glass beaker. He lifted the beaker to eye level and said to Callimachus, “One hundred sixty centimeters.” Callimachus wrote the figure down on a sheet of papyrus.
Archimedes turned to Pharaoh Ptolemy. “Gold weighs 19 grams per cubic centimeter. Silver is nearly half that. If the crown is pure gold…”
“ It is,” Remus whispered quickly.
“ If it is,” Archimedes continued, “the crown will weigh 3 kilograms.”
Archimedes carefully removed the gold wreath from the bowl and dried it off. He set the crown on one of the scales. He added blocks of lead weights in increments on the opposite side. Each block made a soft tap when they were placed on the flat plate opposite the crown. The plate with the crown moved slightly up with each block that was added. As the two scales became nearly even, Archimedes began adding smaller and smaller lead weights. When the scales balanced, Archimedes looked at Callimachus, who smiled.
“ What is it?” Ptolemy asked as one who is not used to waiting.
“ Exactly 3 kilograms,” Callimachus answered. “Pure gold.”
“ Blasphemy!” Ptahhotep growled. He stalked over to his large wooden chair, dropped on it and crossed his arms. “Dunking a crown in a bowl of water proves nothing except…Ow!” Ptahhotep jumped out of his chair as if he were stung by a bee. He turned and rubbed his back.
Ptahhotep sat down with some trepidation and continued his rant. “How can a bowl of water negate what the gods have…Yow!” Again, Ptahhotep was out of his chair, rubbing his back. This time, instead of sitting down, he stormed out of the throne room.
“ What in the name of Zeus is wrong with him?” Ptolemy asked. He looked at Callimachus, who only shrugged his shoulders.
Archimedes turned to hide a smile, but came face to face with Berenike, who gave him a knowing smirk. “What did you do?” Berenike whispered. “I know a prank when I see it.”
“ When I was picking up the bowl of dates earlier, I lodged your oval piece of glass in the back of Ptahhotep’s chair. Back at the library, I told you an elliptical shaped glass is capable of focusing the rays of the sun in one spot. Regrettably, Ptahhotep’s back was that one spot.”
“ Archimedes, I didn’t know you had a devious side!” she said. “We’re going to make a great team. With my grit and your gift, we can solve Alexander’s murder.” Her sea green eyes sparkled and Archimedes was becoming more and more drawn into the energy that swirled around her like a ship sucked into a whirlpool.
Callimachus, Ptolemy, and Remus were discussing the results of the experiment. Remus diligently took the crown from the scales and handed it to Ptolemy. “As I said, Great King, this priceless wreath was crafted in Rome and has not changed at all on its journey across the Mediterranean. A valuable gift,” Remus painted on his smile, “for our valuable friends.”
Ptolemy looked from the scales, to the bowl of water, and then his eyes rested on Archimedes. “You have solved what my scholars, scientists,
Archimedes turned to Ptolemy. “The crown isn’t melted, the gold content is measured, and your lighthouse is built.”
Ptahhotep jumped on the assumption. “You have not determined the gold content yet.”
“ No more discussion,” Ptolemy ordered. “Complete your investigation Archimedes.”
Under the intense gaze of the group, Berenike handed the crown to Archimedes, who gently lowered it into the bowl. He was careful not to drop it or let his fingers break the plane of the water surface. Either mistake would impair the accuracy of the results. Water trickled over the edges of the bowl at the same rate the crown was lowered in until the crown clinked when it hit the bottom. Archimedes waited several moments before he removed the bowl, lifted the plate, and meticulously poured the water into the glass beaker. He lifted the beaker to eye level and said to Callimachus, “One hundred sixty centimeters.” Callimachus wrote the figure down on a sheet of papyrus.
Archimedes turned to Pharaoh Ptolemy. “Gold weighs 19 grams per cubic centimeter. Silver is nearly half that. If the crown is pure gold…”
“ It is,” Remus whispered quickly.
“ If it is,” Archimedes continued, “the crown will weigh 3 kilograms.”
Archimedes carefully removed the gold wreath from the bowl and dried it off. He set the crown on one of the scales. He added blocks of lead weights in increments on the opposite side. Each block made a soft tap when they were placed on the flat plate opposite the crown. The plate with the crown moved slightly up with each block that was added. As the two scales became nearly even, Archimedes began adding smaller and smaller lead weights. When the scales balanced, Archimedes looked at Callimachus, who smiled.
“ What is it?” Ptolemy asked as one who is not used to waiting.
“ Exactly 3 kilograms,” Callimachus answered. “Pure gold.”
“ Blasphemy!” Ptahhotep growled. He stalked over to his large wooden chair, dropped on it and crossed his arms. “Dunking a crown in a bowl of water proves nothing except…Ow!” Ptahhotep jumped out of his chair as if he were stung by a bee. He turned and rubbed his back.
Ptahhotep sat down with some trepidation and continued his rant. “How can a bowl of water negate what the gods have…Yow!” Again, Ptahhotep was out of his chair, rubbing his back. This time, instead of sitting down, he stormed out of the throne room.
“ What in the name of Zeus is wrong with him?” Ptolemy asked. He looked at Callimachus, who only shrugged his shoulders.
Archimedes turned to hide a smile, but came face to face with Berenike, who gave him a knowing smirk. “What did you do?” Berenike whispered. “I know a prank when I see it.”
“ When I was picking up the bowl of dates earlier, I lodged your oval piece of glass in the back of Ptahhotep’s chair. Back at the library, I told you an elliptical shaped glass is capable of focusing the rays of the sun in one spot. Regrettably, Ptahhotep’s back was that one spot.”
“ Archimedes, I didn’t know you had a devious side!” she said. “We’re going to make a great team. With my grit and your gift, we can solve Alexander’s murder.” Her sea green eyes sparkled and Archimedes was becoming more and more drawn into the energy that swirled around her like a ship sucked into a whirlpool.
Callimachus, Ptolemy, and Remus were discussing the results of the experiment. Remus diligently took the crown from the scales and handed it to Ptolemy. “As I said, Great King, this priceless wreath was crafted in Rome and has not changed at all on its journey across the Mediterranean. A valuable gift,” Remus painted on his smile, “for our valuable friends.”
Ptolemy looked from the scales, to the bowl of water, and then his eyes rested on Archimedes. “You have solved what my scholars, scientists,
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