Southend U3A

August 2024

The Dusty Book- Malcolm Fyfe

The Greek city of Syracuse, situated off the coast of Scilly, was, 2000 years ago, a very prosperous city under the leadership of King Hieros II.

On the edge of a noisy marketplace, sitting on a pile of sacks, was a gangly youth with a markedly dark tanned face, topped by a mop of curly black hair which stuck out in all directions from a tattered straw hat; protruding from his tunic, his thin legs ended in cow hide sandals.

Pious watched curious as a donkey cart pulled up and a large bearded man, with obvious relief, got down from the cart which had pulled up outside the entrance of a famed place of learning, the city school.

Built after the loss by fire of the great Museum of Alexandria, it housed the remnants of scrolls and documents that recorded the thoughts and studies of learned scientists.

Pious thought him an important Man who made his way to the steps of the porticoed building climbing the steps with help of a stick carved from olive wood.

His good friend Dios, a carpenter in the shipyard, had told Pious about Archimedes, the engineer and Mathematician who designed the principle that governed the action of pulleys and levers. They were used in huge catapults and other war machines that would be used against the Invading Romans.

Now Pious was unaware that Archimedes had made enquiries about the farm boy, his attention has been drawn to a system designed by pious and to move heavy loads of timber quickly and safely in the shipyard workshop.

Archimedes recognised that Pious had a logical mind and could solve problems in a way that few could.

He had offered Pious a place in his school and set about teaching him reading writing and mathematics.

After a study session, including geometry, which Pious found somewhat tedious, Pious wandered around the room.

Rush mats lined the floor, the alcove which, when not curtained off, had a striking view of the Syracuse harbour.

A long table covered in parchments and scrawled on pieces of papyrus were rolled up or otherwise scattered amongst wooden models and other various object which were at the least very mysterious to Pious.

In the corner stood a brazier complete with chopped wood ready for colder evenings, torches in brackets ready for lighting placed around the walls.

Pious looked at the books filled shelves but, not being able to read, could only run his finger along the calf and goatskin covers sensing the information within their covers.

Noting the boy’s interest, Archimedes stood at his shoulder. ‘Marvellous things books, they tell us so much,’ he paused, ‘I studied at the great museum in Alexandria, they stored copies of the great works of Euclid, Copernicus, Galileo, and many others, all lost in the great fire. Some blamed Caesar after he the great invasion but we will never know. Some material was saved and bought here.

‘All my life I’ve looked for one of the most important, a collection, it listed the principles from every piece of work lodged in the museum. ‘Put together by the head librarian it was a lifetimes work. He was here for quite a while. I learnt a lot from him before the gods called him to his rest.’

‘We know the collection was bought here - for years we have tried to find it - we think the chief librarian hid it for safety but would never reveal its whereabouts,’ he sighed, ‘probably for safety, in case those Romans came calling. Pious had a map of the school tucked away and used it to find his way around the various nooks and corridors. Thinking about the book and where it could be, he studied the map, that showed a roof space only accessible to the fittest and possibly the foolish but Pious was neither, he had taken a deep breath, climbed round a pillar and, through a tiny hole in the ceiling, he wriggled into a cavernous roof space, feeling just a little scared.

‘With hands out for balance he walked along beams and trusses, a small oil lamp suspended around his neck, he studied the hand carved timber that supported the massive cantilever roof.

‘Clutching at air and little else, he jumped as fluttering small wings skimmed his ear. Ugh, he thought, hating bats, funny creatures that hung upside down and squeaked. Bending down to avoid any more of the flying creatures, he stared curiously at dust covered square object wedged between the beams. Balancing, brushing away two centuries of dust and other things probably left by the bats and whatever crawled or flew. On the faded cover faint gold script was revealed that shone in the dim light, the remnants of old cord wrapped around it. He knew it was old, so he tugged it free, slipped off his cotton vest and carefully wrapped the bulky collection to protect it.

‘He made his way along the beam on his knees, carrying the book and made his way back to ground level glad to be on solid ground. Archimedes was in his den, as Pious called it, he rang the little silver bell that was placed in an alcove. The curtain drawn across the doorway jerked back. Archimedes stood with a schoinion in one hand [a knotted measuring rope] and a charcoal stick in the other.

‘Oh, it’s you.’ He frowned and barked, ‘Why aren’t you in class?’ Pius replied, ‘I’ve been busy, yes, but not at your studies and why are you half dressed?’ He spotted the wrapped package. ‘What have you got there?’

Pious half grinned. ‘I think you’d like to see this’ ‘oh, would I?’ came the tart reply. ‘Come in anyway but I haven’t got long.’ Pious carefully uncovered the book, as he did so Archimedes put his hand to his mouth as he studied the script on the book cover.

‘Have you opened it?’ ‘No,’ said Pios. ‘Good, it’s very old, where was it?’ As pious explained, Archimedes stared at him. ‘By the gods you took a risk.’ Pious who was holding his breath whilst waiting for an onslaught of temper. ‘I need help with this; Marcellus is very good with parchment and papyrus. Go and find but him tell no one of your find.’

Several days passed with Archimedes and Marcellus quietly studious, little noise coming from Archimedes study. Some days late Archimedes gathered the tutors and students in his study. ‘Someone here has been breaking the rules again, there was a silence as stifling the knowing smiles, all present turned their heads, seeking out a slightly red faced Pious. ‘However, he has redeemed himself and made a great discovery,’ sliding off a cloth cover revealing a collection of parchments held in place by a dusty cover blackened with age. ‘It is a great and important find, probably several hundred years old, certainly saved from the great fire at the Alexandria Museum.’

He invited them to come and view. They gathered around his table, marvelling at the carefully written scriptures, Diagrams of the planets, the sun, Moon, the Earth, mathematical formulae of every design. And calculation.

Fixing Pious with a stare, ‘You have done a great service. I have to tell you other scientists have applied to come and study here, that’s marvellous for us.’ Grasping the lapels of his robe, Archimedes straitened with pride and perhaps a tear although would never admit to such a weakness and said with a cough, ‘I shall enjoy that but any more antics won’t save your backside from a tanning, that’s a promise ‘.

The school prospered after the discovery of the manuscripts as did Pious, he grew into a successful landowner thanks to his schooling.

Archimedes lived on into his eightieth year, a remarkable age.

Walking on the beach one evening he was surprised by a Roman soldier reconnoitring the coast, the soldier demanded the papers Archimedes had under his arm. At his refusal to hand them over. In a fury the soldier killed Archimedes, at that moment. It is said the sea stilled its restless motion and a snowy white owl landed on the beach momentarily, then the owl flew up and away in a flash of pure white.