# History Question: sinking ships using solar power

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-question-sinking-ships-using-solar-power/89536>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 25, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-question-sinking-ships-using-solar-power/89536 "2001-10-25T13:58:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iwishihada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@iwishihada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwishihada)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-question-sinking-ships-using-solar-power/89536/1 "2001-10-25T13:58:20Z")

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I have a question that I have not been able to find an answer to. I heard many years ago that there was an invading army coming towards a land in ships. The people of the land were very upset as they could see the ships coming and did not know what to do. A Captain in the army on the land gathered 100 men and had them polish the backs of their shields. The Captain had the men line up on the shore and reflect the sunlight using their shields onto the ships.  
The ships were slowly destroyed by burning from the reflected light. the survivors were easily picked off by the army onshore.  
I do not know the time or location of this battle or even if it is true. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch

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**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-question-sinking-ships-using-solar-power/89536/2 "2001-10-25T14:01:41Z")

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I’ve moved your original thread to this forum. This one is closed. Please, in the future, e-mail the moderators if you have difficulties. We’d prefer there aren’t a bunch of duplicate threads floating around.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-question-sinking-ships-using-solar-power/89536/3 "2001-10-25T14:02:52Z")

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It took place in the Greek city state of Syracuse. The designer of the system was supposedly Archimedes. (Look for “Burning mirror” at this site: [http://www.crystalinks.com/archimedes.html](http://www.crystalinks.com/archimedes.html))