Claw of Archimedes Claw of Archimedes The Claw (, "harpágē", "snatcher") of Archimedes (also known as the "iron hand") was an ancient weapon devised by Archimedes to defend the seaward portion of Syracuse's city wall against amphibious assault. Although its exact nature is unclear, the accounts of ancient historians seem to describe it as a sort of crane equipped with a grappling hook that was able to lift an attacking ship partly out of the water, then either cause the ship to capsize or suddenly drop it. These machines featured prominently during the Second Punic War in 214 BC, when the Roman Republic
Montes Archimedes Montes Archimedes Montes Archimedes is a mountain range on the Moon. It is named after the crater Archimedes that lies to the north, which in turn is an eponym of the Greek mathematician Archimedes. This group of mountains is located on a plateau in the eastern part of the Mare Imbrium, a lunar mare in the northwest quadrant of the Moon's near side. They are bounded on the eastern side by the Palus Putredinis, a small mare, and to the north by Archimedes. Farther to the south and east lies the impressive Montes Apenninus, a long mountain range. The selenographic