THALES OF MILETUS

From Phoenicia, studied in Babylonia

and visited Egypt. If you believe

Diogenes Laertios. The first of the natural

philosophers of Ionia, predicted

the eclipse that occurred during the battle

on the Halys river between Lydian

and Median empires. Water was

the 'first cause' for him. Never married.

Fell into a well or a hole while

watching stars, berated by an old

woman that he saw what was far

but not what was at his feet. Made

a fortune to show he could do it. We

give him dates 624 to 546 BCE

and forget about Phoenicia, Babylonia

and Egypt and make him the father,

the childless begetter of 'Western' science.

If he wrote something, none survives.

05.09.2017