One legend about Archimedes, a famous Greek mathematician and physicist, states that he was killed during Syracuse’s siege in 212 B.C. According to the most common narrative, he was sketching geometric figures when a bounty-seeking Roman soldier burst into his study. “Do not disturb my circles,” said Archimedes, but the simpleton Roman legionnaire, who knew nothing about mathematics, struck him with a sword. History has repeatedly evidenced over the last two millennia that ignoramuses often change history. Geniuses who fall victim to uncivilized invaders, uncultured neighbors, or moronic rulers are well known. Postmortems cannot alleviate the loss of a great...