The First Book of Mechanical Mathematical Instruments

Many have written about this, but diversely: some, like Plutarch in the Life of Marcellus, original: "in the life of Marcellus" state that Archimedes, being seated at his ease and having first hooked a large merchant ship original: "caracque" of King Hiero, pulled it from the sea onto the land with his instrument. Others say that he put himself to sea on a vessel and, by the same instrument, pulled the ship from the land into the sea. But in this, I have wished to follow the ancient figures which show an Archimedes pulling the ship after him, to which Polybius seems to agree in some way. And it is very likely that, having made a trial of his trispast before King Hiero, he wanted to show that this was not done at all by the force of the arms or of the rope.

8 Another manner of machine, not unlike that by which the same Archimedes lifted and released into the sea the galleys and vessels of his enemies.

In this machine, two things come to be considered: namely, the wheel above, which is double and made in such a way that the sudden movement of one cannot hinder the movement of the other; and then the weight, which is released suddenly to ensure that the chains, being cast from one side and the other of the galley, can immediately hook it firmly so that it may then be lifted by the trispast which is beneath.
As for the other military machines invented by Archimedes, we place nothing of them in this little work, because they merit a large and great volume.

9 New form of machine suitable for unloading ships in ports and harbors, or for lifting some loads.
10 Another nearly similar invention, although the principle is different, also for lifting loads.
11 Third composition of a machine serving to easily lift boats and transport them from one river to another.
12 Fourth and new composition of a machine of the same type, in which the wheel, suspended and pushed by the diverse action of man, causes one side to lift loads and the other to lower them.
13 New type of mill in which the movement of the suspended wheel can be hastened (which is not done ordinarily) by the weight and pushing of man.
14 Another manner of building windmills, of which the sails will be more easily turned to the wind than those of the common ones.

In this, two great conveniences must be considered: the first, that it will not be necessary to exit the tower to turn the sails to the wind; the second, that they will be led there easily, because the entire structure of the roof with the toothed wheel, and the lantern of the mill, turn almost as if on a pivot, which nevertheless is pierced to pass the bar that makes the millstone turn; this is not done so easily with common ones, because there it is necessary to turn the entire building enclosed within the tower.