Let’s highlight this Thales Of Miletus character. He is considered one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece and the first philosophers of the western tradition. Instrumental in helping to shift understanding of our world through the lens of science, not mythology. Also loved water.

Herodotus: “suddenly the day became night. And this change of the day Thales the Milesian had foretold. The Lydians however and the Medes, when they saw that it had become night instead of day, ceased from their fighting and were much more eager both of them that peace should be made between them”

The Battle of the Halys or “Battle of the Eclipse” was a conflict fought by the Lydians and Medes around 585 BC in modern day Turkey (ancient Anatolia). This arduous conflict drug on for 6 years without a clear victor. But on May 28th of that year, a sudden solar eclipse drove both sides to peace.

Egyptians, historically, were well known for their reverence of animals with cats holding a special place with worship of the goddess Bastet. Due to the sacred nature of these animals this account holds that the defenders would not harm these animals and thus the city fell to siege.

According to a recounting by Polyaneus, Cambyses II of Persia used a very early form of psychological warfare to defeat Pharaoh Psamtik III at the battle of Pelusium 525 BCE. Cats were carried or pinned to Persian shields in order de-motivate and dissuade the Egyptians from defending their city.