Science surely knows a lot. For example, scientists can calculate on what day of our present convenient calendar falls an event that happened before the Christian era. No one will be surprised if a modern astronomer predicts a solar eclipse – for even the Greek philosopher, mathematician and astronomer Thales of Miletus who lived in the seventh and sixth centuries BC managed to do that. On May 28 (according to our calendar) of the year 585 BC his prediction came true. The eclipse which had happened on that day ended a war fought between a Lydian king Alyattes and the Medean king Cyaxares over domination in Asia Minor. Both sides considered the rare natural phenomenon to be an omen from the gods and the hostilities ceased.