this was done awhile back on (MYTH BUSTERS) a show on the discovery channel...the two guys and thier team built a large mirror out of items and used instructions that could have been found at the time that Archimede lived.. also made a boat with timber and materials as close to the origanl ships used around the time of Archimede.... the boat that they were trying to burn up with THE DEATH RAY got real warm and melted the bees wax caulking but FAILED to ignite the boat into flames..also gave the team a bad sun burn .....MYTH BUSTED!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.... do'nt belive everything you read......vince g. 11b inf......