Archimedes (Arshimīdis in Arabic), the greatest scientist of antiquity, was born in Syracuse circa 287 B.C.E. and, according to legend, slain by a Roman soldier during the Roman capture of his birthplace in 212 B.C.E. He was the founder of geometrical statics and hydrostatics and was famous during his lifetime for his mechanical inventions. His father, and first teacher, was the astronomer Phidias. He may also have been related to the ruler of Syracuse, Hieron II (c. 306-214 B.C.E.). He almost certainly visited