Just tested this on an ant. He died.

Does this make the defense less legendary?

Clearly this is feature is needed to make arkhes more useful in combat.

You do realize the Roman commander ordered Archimedes taken alive because of his ingenious devices used in the defense of Syracuse.

But not because of the "mirrors"...

According to the popular account given by Plutarch, Archimedes was contemplating a mathematical diagram when the city was captured. A Roman soldier commanded him to come and meet General Marcellus but he declined, saying that he had to finish working on the problem. The soldier was enraged by this, and killed Archimedes with his sword. Plutarch also gives a lesser-known account of the death of Archimedes which suggests that he may have been killed while attempting to surrender to a Roman soldier. According to this story, Archimedes was carrying mathematical instruments, and was killed because the soldier thought that they were valuable items. General Marcellus was reportedly angered by the death of Archimedes, as he considered him a valuable scientific asset and had ordered that he not be harmed.

Valerius Maximus (c. 20 BC-c. AD 50 ), Memorable Doings and Sayings, Book VIII.7.ext. 7
"I should say that Archimedes’ diligence also bore fruit if it had not both given him life and taken it away. At the capture of Syracuse Marcellus had been aware that his victory had been held up much and long by Archimedes’ machines. However, pleased with the man’s exceptional skill, he gave out that his life was to be spared, putting almost as much glory in saving Archimedes as in crushing Syracuse. But as Archimedes was drawing diagrams with mind and eyes fixed on the ground, a soldier who had broken into the house in quest of loot with sword drawn over his head asked him who he was. Too much absorbed in tracking down his objective, Archimedes could not give his name but said, protecting the dust with his hands, “I beg you, don’t disturb this,” and was slaughtered as neglectful of the victor’s command; with his blood he confused the lines of his art. So it fell out that he was first granted his life and then stripped of it by reason of the same pursuit."

UNIVERSAL HISTORY by Polybius (c. 200-118 BC)
" But Archimedes had constructed artillery which could cover a whole variety of ranges, so that while the attacking ships were still at a distance he scored so many hits with his catapults and stone-throwers that he was able to cause them severe damage and harass their approach. Then, as the distance decreased and these weapons began to carry over the enemy's heads, he resorted to smaller and smaller machines, and so demoralized the Romans that their advance was brought to a standstill. In the end Marcellus was reduced in despair to bringing up his ships secretly under cover of darkness. But when they had almost reached the shore, and were therefore too close to be struck by the catapults, Archimedes had devised yet another weapon to repel the marines, who were fighting from the decks. He had had the walls pierced with large numbers of loopholes at the height of a man, which were about a palm's breadth wide at the outer surface of the walls. Behind each of these and inside the walls were stationed archers with rows of so-called 'scorpions', a small catapult which discharged iron darts, and by shooting through these embrasures they put many of the marines out of action. Through these tactics he not only foiled all the enemy's attacks, both those made at long range and any attempt at hand-to-hand fighting, but also caused them heavy losses.  "

The first mention of it occurs in Lucian (c. 120–180 AD), who only states that Archimedes was able to burn the ships by artificial means. One variation tells of Archimedes using an elaborate combination of mirrors or polished shields to focus the sun’s rays on the Roman ships like a giant magnifying glass. This version, however, can be traced back only as far as to Galen (130–200 AD).

Point being, despite all that, Syracuse fell to he Romans, aftr a 2 year seige.

Thank you, Professor Aurelius.

it never worked on myth busters because they were too stupid to realize the importance of accuracy. A mesh screen? Kids who can't sit still holding mirrors? If you look at the footage the reflections are all over the place.

No intention of diminishing Archimedes achievements, neither in the defense of Syracuse, nor in mathematics.

Rather, it was to dimishish the OP, for a blatantly ridiculous idea based on a total misunderstanding of classical history.  So i suggest you go back and reread the posts, and obtain a better comprehesion of the English language, before reading into my statements what you want them to say...

And yes, you are a nitpicker.  Go find some nits to pick.

nit·pick (ntpk) intr.v. nit·picked, nit·pick·ing, nit·picks
a) To be concerned with or find fault with insignificant details.
b) Nitpicking is the act of removing nits (the eggs of lice, generally head lice) from the host's hair.