Archytas Of Tarentum, an Italian Greek philosopher, mathematician, general, and statesman, in the early part of the 4th century B. C. He is said to have been seven times general of the Tarentine forces, and to have always been victorious. He evinced no less capacity in political affairs. He was very intimate with Plato, was the first who applied mathematical principles to practical mechanics, and constructed various machines and automatons. He was accidentally drowned while crossing the Adriatic. A collection of the works ascribed to Archytas will be found in Orelli's Opuscula Graecorum.