Syracuse is located in the south east corner of Sicily, and in the ancient world it was a powerful Mediterranean city-state allied to Sparta and Corinth, and also notable for being the birthplace of preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes.
The film plays a little loosely with the facts since Archimedes was in actuality 75 years old when he was killed in the siege, but here is played by the considerably younger Rossano Brazzi, who ages from approximately 30 to 50 and survives.
It probably wouldn't have played too well to have an old man spurning the King's daughter Clio (bouncy blonde Koscina) for fiery exotic dancer Diana (flame-haired Louise), only to lose her when she's kidnapped by and marries Roman general Marcello (Farnese, clean shaven for once), so he winds up marrying Clio anyway, becoming King when her father dies (now that's really taking historical liberties). The two women spend the film wearing the skimpiest costumes possible while retaining a modicum of decency.
It's these historically dubious loves of Archimedes (a more apt title) which take up the bulk of the plot here, barely leaving him time to invent aqueducts, catapults, and a device capable of setting ships on fire by use of mirrors (this one is true!) in his designer cave laboratory.
It is also historically doubtful that it was Marcello's jealousy at Archimedes and Diana becoming reacquainted which was the catalyst for the Roman's setting siege to Syracuse which, you'll be pleased to hear, does eventually occur in the film's final fifteen minutes.
It's an enjoyable enough cheaply-produced light and fluffy romantic peplum, but if you go in expecting the war film the title promises or a lesson in history you'll come out disappointed.
The film plays a little loosely with the facts since Archimedes was in actuality 75 years old when he was killed in the siege, but here is played by the considerably younger Rossano Brazzi, who ages from approximately 30 to 50 and survives.
It probably wouldn't have played too well to have an old man spurning the King's daughter Clio (bouncy blonde Koscina) for fiery exotic dancer Diana (flame-haired Louise), only to lose her when she's kidnapped by and marries Roman general Marcello (Farnese, clean shaven for once), so he winds up marrying Clio anyway, becoming King when her father dies (now that's really taking historical liberties). The two women spend the film wearing the skimpiest costumes possible while retaining a modicum of decency.
It's these historically dubious loves of Archimedes (a more apt title) which take up the bulk of the plot here, barely leaving him time to invent aqueducts, catapults, and a device capable of setting ships on fire by use of mirrors (this one is true!) in his designer cave laboratory.
It is also historically doubtful that it was Marcello's jealousy at Archimedes and Diana becoming reacquainted which was the catalyst for the Roman's setting siege to Syracuse which, you'll be pleased to hear, does eventually occur in the film's final fifteen minutes.
It's an enjoyable enough cheaply-produced light and fluffy romantic peplum, but if you go in expecting the war film the title promises or a lesson in history you'll come out disappointed.
