Second Punic war, Siege of Syracuse, 214-214 BC. 1728 (engraving)

History by Polybius. Volume I. French edition translated from Greek by Dom Vincent Thuillier. Comments of Military Science enriched with critical and historical notes by M. De Folard. Paris, chez Pierre Gandouin, Julien-Michel Gandouin, Pierre-Francois Giffart and Nicolas-Pierre Armand, 1727. Printing by Jean-Baptiste Lamesle. Second Punic War, between Rome and Carthage. Siege of Syracuse, 214-214 BC. Crane-type machinery designed by Archimedes to defend the city and its walls from the Roman fleet attack, according to the historians Polybius and Plutarch. Archimedes took part in the defense of the city. The Claw of Archimedes (also called "iron hand") was an ancient weapon devised by Archimedes to defend the seaward portion of Syracuse's city wall against amphibious assault. It was equipped with a grappling hook that was able to lift an attacking ship partly out of the water. Later colouration.