Claw of Archimedes

The Claw of Archimedes was a device invented by the ancient Greek mathematician and engineer Archimedes to defend Syracuse from Roman ships. It functioned like a large crane with a grappling arm that could lift or damage enemy vessels. When a ship approached, the claw would grab it, then lift or tilt it to cause chaos or sink it. Think of it as an early, mechanical "fighting arm" designed to intercept and disable invading ships at a distance, showcasing innovative use of basic physics to defend a city.