c. 610-c. 547 B.C.

Greek Philosopher

Anaximander is famous for introducing the concept of the apeiron—the first use of an unobservable entity to explain empirical phenomena. He also developed the first geometrical model of the universe, drew the first Greek map of the inhabited world, produced the first Greek star-map and celestial globe, and adapted the gnomon sundial for measuring the hours of the day and annual variations in the Sun's path. His now lost work, On the Nature of Things, is believed to be the first scientific treatise.

Anaximander was born around 610 B.C.in Miletus, which at the time was the most powerful Greek city in Asia Minor. Little is known of his life. Tradition has it that he was a younger friend of Thales (c. 624-c. 546 B.C.), possibly his student. Regardless, Anaximander was clearly influenced by Thales. The only...