The Greek word heureka, meaning “I have found it,” was made famous by Archimedes, a Sicilian philosopher (c. 287-212 B.C.).
Archimedes was given the task of finding out whether a crown presented to the ruler of Syracuse was really pure gold or alloyed with an inferior metal.
The philosopher was baffled until he stepped into his bath and noticed it overflowing. He realized that objects of equal weight but different density displace different amounts of water when immersed, the principle of specific gravity.
Since gold has a different density than other metals, immersion in water could be used to determine whether the crown was made of pure gold.
The idea excited Archimedes so much that he jumped out of the public bath shouting “Heureka! Heureka!”, then ran home naked to try the experiment.
Related Answers
- Who supplied the voice of Laurence Olivier in the restored bath scene in Spartacus (1960, restored 1991)? Anthony Hopkins supplied the voice of Laurence Olivier in the restored bath scene in Spartacus (1960, restored 1991).
- What author said of what work, "I have protracted my work til most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquility, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise"? Dr. Samuel Johnson said it of his dictionary in "Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language" (1747-55).
- Who said, "After eight years as president, I have only two regrets: that I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun"? Andrew Jackson said, "After eight years as president, I have only two regrets: that I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun".
- Who said,"I have decided that while I am a star I will be every inch and every moment a star. Everyone from the studio gateman to the highest executive will know it"? Gloria Swanson said the famous lines.
- Who said, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours"? Oliver Hazard Perry said, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours" at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, during the War of 1812.
- To whom is William Randolph Hearst alleged to have said, "You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war"? William Randolph Hearst is alleged to have said, "You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war" to artist Frederic Remington, who was covering conditions in Cuba…