priests could not. I concur with Callimachus, Archimedes; you are a gifted scientist.”
“ I told you father,” Berenike said, “Archimedes is capable of mystifying things.” She gave him a covert nudge in the side. “That is why I brought Archimedes here to see you. He is going to help me with my investigation into the murder of Alexander.”
But Ptolemy was already walking back to his throne. “Your friend,” Ptolemy said solemnly, “solved one problem, daughter.” He sat on the throne with purpose and looked around at everyone in the room. “But there is still a bigger problem: My workers are being killed. No one has been able to solve that, but maybe this young scientist can.”
Archimedes turned in shock to Callimachus, who was forming an argument to present to the pharaoh on why Archimedes may be too young to undertake a task that soldiers and doctors had been unable to solve.
The slapping of sandals echoed from a side entrance and a soldier burst into the room. He appeared to be a captain of the guards. He wore a robe and had a necklace with three golden flies that bobbed with his quick pace. The golden fly was given to soldiers who displayed bravery in battle.
The soldier stopped in front of Ptolemy and knelt. He bowed his head and said, “Pardon me, Great King. But you gave instructions to be informed without delay on any developments with the murders at the lighthouse.”
Great, thought Archimedes. They’ve caught whoever is doing this. I won’t have to leave my studies.
“ Well?” Ptolemy asked impatiently.
“ A body has been discovered. There has been another murder.”
A scowl darkened the face of the pharaoh. Is there anything he can do to fight a murderous god? He narrowed his eyes at the soldier, then looked over at Archimedes.
“ Your science broke the curse on my crown. Now, by Zeus, you will break the curse on my lighthouse! Archimedes, I am ordering you to find out who is killing my workers.”
Chapter 17
Hazy, gray smoke curled out of a bronze incense burner. Frankincense filled the cool, dark room with a sweet, pungent odor. It mingled with the smell of death, which was no stranger to this place. Shafts of diffused sunlight tried to burn through the thick smoke and candles were burning in a futile attempt to add more light.
“ Bah!” The doctor straightened up and looked at his Egyptian colleague. “That dreadful smoke is blocking my light. Can’t we put it out so I can see what I am doing?”
Herophilos, a Greek physician, was examining the body of the 12th Egyptian worker found at the worksite of the lighthouse. They were in Herophilos’ surgery room, which was part of the medicine wing of the school where Herophilos taught human anatomy and sometimes conducted autopsies.
“ The incense purifies our work and attracts the attention of the gods. It is required anytime we work on the deceased.” The Egyptian doctor, Kafele, was small and unassuming. Like all Egyptian doctors, he was more of a priest and shaved his whole body to demonstrate his reverence to the gods by keeping his body clean.
“ It only attracts more flies. By Apollo, it smells worse than this decaying body,” Herophilos said. “Couldn’t they have brought him here earlier? I could find out more if the body was fresher.”
When Pharaoh Ptolemy charged Archimedes to solve the crime with science, Archimedes asked to have the corpse taken to the school so an autopsy could be performed by Herophilos. Callimachus was standing next to Herophilos but Archimedes preferred a little distance and stood back by Kafele, nearer to the windows than the dissection.
Herophilos was the first doctor in history to extensively dissect the human body. He founded the school of medicine at the school because this was the only place that would allow him to do his research of human anatomy. His books were required reading for all new physicians attending school in Alexandria.
Egyptian
“ I told you father,” Berenike said, “Archimedes is capable of mystifying things.” She gave him a covert nudge in the side. “That is why I brought Archimedes here to see you. He is going to help me with my investigation into the murder of Alexander.”
But Ptolemy was already walking back to his throne. “Your friend,” Ptolemy said solemnly, “solved one problem, daughter.” He sat on the throne with purpose and looked around at everyone in the room. “But there is still a bigger problem: My workers are being killed. No one has been able to solve that, but maybe this young scientist can.”
Archimedes turned in shock to Callimachus, who was forming an argument to present to the pharaoh on why Archimedes may be too young to undertake a task that soldiers and doctors had been unable to solve.
The slapping of sandals echoed from a side entrance and a soldier burst into the room. He appeared to be a captain of the guards. He wore a robe and had a necklace with three golden flies that bobbed with his quick pace. The golden fly was given to soldiers who displayed bravery in battle.
The soldier stopped in front of Ptolemy and knelt. He bowed his head and said, “Pardon me, Great King. But you gave instructions to be informed without delay on any developments with the murders at the lighthouse.”
Great, thought Archimedes. They’ve caught whoever is doing this. I won’t have to leave my studies.
“ Well?” Ptolemy asked impatiently.
“ A body has been discovered. There has been another murder.”
A scowl darkened the face of the pharaoh. Is there anything he can do to fight a murderous god? He narrowed his eyes at the soldier, then looked over at Archimedes.
“ Your science broke the curse on my crown. Now, by Zeus, you will break the curse on my lighthouse! Archimedes, I am ordering you to find out who is killing my workers.”
Chapter 17
Hazy, gray smoke curled out of a bronze incense burner. Frankincense filled the cool, dark room with a sweet, pungent odor. It mingled with the smell of death, which was no stranger to this place. Shafts of diffused sunlight tried to burn through the thick smoke and candles were burning in a futile attempt to add more light.
“ Bah!” The doctor straightened up and looked at his Egyptian colleague. “That dreadful smoke is blocking my light. Can’t we put it out so I can see what I am doing?”
Herophilos, a Greek physician, was examining the body of the 12th Egyptian worker found at the worksite of the lighthouse. They were in Herophilos’ surgery room, which was part of the medicine wing of the school where Herophilos taught human anatomy and sometimes conducted autopsies.
“ The incense purifies our work and attracts the attention of the gods. It is required anytime we work on the deceased.” The Egyptian doctor, Kafele, was small and unassuming. Like all Egyptian doctors, he was more of a priest and shaved his whole body to demonstrate his reverence to the gods by keeping his body clean.
“ It only attracts more flies. By Apollo, it smells worse than this decaying body,” Herophilos said. “Couldn’t they have brought him here earlier? I could find out more if the body was fresher.”
When Pharaoh Ptolemy charged Archimedes to solve the crime with science, Archimedes asked to have the corpse taken to the school so an autopsy could be performed by Herophilos. Callimachus was standing next to Herophilos but Archimedes preferred a little distance and stood back by Kafele, nearer to the windows than the dissection.
Herophilos was the first doctor in history to extensively dissect the human body. He founded the school of medicine at the school because this was the only place that would allow him to do his research of human anatomy. His books were required reading for all new physicians attending school in Alexandria.
Egyptian
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