Some anecdotes about Thales

Thales of Miletus learnt more about maths and astronomy from Egyptians. Fascinated with his pyramids and culture he spent some time with Egyptian priests, to acquire information to other sources. Thales visited also the Babylonians and Chaldeans .- As Plato made the point : "the Greeks took from foreigners what was of value and developed their notions into better ideas".- As a result of this travels he had access to the astrological records which enabled him to predict the solar eclipse of 585 BCE. Thales is acclaimed for having foretold this eclipse to the Ionians who were having a battle against their enemies, The Medes.  As all became dark in the middle of the day the combatants saw the eclipse as disapproval of their warfare, and as a warning. They ceased fighting and a peace agreement was reached between the two kings.

Finally I will narrate an anecdote about Thales' mule that was almost as clever as its owner. Coming back to the times in which he was a merchant, a day he was carrying a charge of salt over his mule's back. Then the mule slipped and dropped into the river; as salt  dissolved,  the animal realized that his burden had decreased. So that after a few minutes it plunged into the water, on purpose, several times until it lost all the weight. In order to solve the problem, in the next journey the mule was loaded with sponges. When it jumped into the river, it comprehended that it was wrong. In this way Thales shown how to sort out even a quotidian problem in the most effective and harmless manner. Another man in this situation would had reacted hitting the animal.

It is said that he was asked about what he would like in exchange of his achievements he answered: "I would like that when you speak of them to others, you tell that are mine".