My OperaThales of Miletus
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 8:53:21 AM
HISTORY OF MILETUS:
The origins and earliest history of Miletus are still a subject of controversy. The name "Milawanda" that occurs in Hittite texts may well refer to Miletus.
According to ancient authors, the first inhabitants were the Carians and Lelegians.
After the capture of the city by the Ionians under their leader Neileus in 1000 B.C., the conquerors killed the Milesian men and married their wives thus forming the new population of the city.
Legend has it that the women of Miletus expressed their resentment and punished their new husbands by refusing to sit at table with them.
The city was ruled for a time by kings descended from Neileus, but after 800 B.C. administration passed into the hands of the aristocracy. After 687 B.C. it was ruled by dictators known as "tyrants", and it was during this period that the city began to found colonies overseas.
By the first half of the 6th century, Miletus, thanks to these colonies, possessed a large maritime empire. The distinguished scholars produced by the city at that time included natural philosophers such as Thales, Anaximenes, Anaximander and Hecataeus.
Thales, the first to forecast an eclipse of the sun, produced new theories in geometry and astronomy, Anaximander carved on stone universal laws independent of the gods and Hecataeus excelled in geography.
Macedonian philosopher Thales of Miletus (575-532 BC?) predicted a solar eclipse using Babylonian observations and mapped out constellations to aid navigation.
Aristotle in Metaphysics 1.3.5 said Thales held the world stuff is water. Probably meant that water could take many forms. We have no fragments left of his writing, if indeed he did any.
Lelegians
"I will tell you truly all," replied Dolon. "To the seaward lie the Carians, the Paeonian bowmen, the Leleges, the Cauconians, and the noble Pelasgi. The Lysians and proud Mysians, with the Phrygians and Meonians, have their place on the side towards Thymbra; but why ask about an this? If you want to find your way into the host of the Trojans, there are the Thracians, who have lately come here and lie apart from the others at the far end of the camp; and they have Rhesus son of Eioneus for their king. His horses are the finest and strongest that I have ever seen, they are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows. His chariot is bedight with silver and gold, and he has brought his marvellous golden armour, of the rarest workmanship- too splendid for any mortal man to carry, and meet only for the gods. Now, therefore, take me to the ships or bind me securely here, until you come back and have proved my words whether they be false or true."
The Iliad - By Homer Written 800 B.C.E
Translated by Samuel Butler Book X
Macedonian philosopher Thales of Miletus
