There was a Mythbusters episode where they tried to build an Archimedes Steam Cannon based on the drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci. Totally busted. Using modern materials and technology they were able to get a scale model to work with a tennis ball, but the full sized cannon was barely able to get the ball out of the barrel.

Archimedes may have theorized that steam could be used in a projectile weapon, but there is no evidence that any such weapon was ever built.


Hold the phone! The bright people at MIT have built a steam cannon. http://web.mit.edu/2.009/www//experi...eamCannon.html

They claim that their design (which they don't describe) is consistent with the materials and technology of the Da Vinci drawings. Bear in mind that the link between the Da Vinci drawing and Archimedes is not conclusive.