Δημόκριτος

Democritus of Abdera↗ did not visit Athens↗, but considered that great city beneath his notice; nor did he care to win fame from a place but rather preferred himself to make a place famous.¹ When Hippocrates came to see Democritus, he ordered milk to be brought and having looked at it said that the milk came from a she-goat which had produced her first kid and was black; and Hippocrates marvelled at the accuracy of his observation. Moreover, Hippocrates was accompanied by a young girl, and the first day Democritus greeted her with "Good day, maid," but the next day with "Good day, woman." In fact, the girl had been seduced during the night.² Now, when he was very old and nearing the end his sister was upset that he would probably die on the Thesmophoria festival and thus she would not be able to make a proper offering to the goddess.³ He told her to be of good courage and ordered that hot loaves should be brought to him every day; putting them under his nostrils, he managed to keep himself alive over the festival. When the days had passed -- there were three of them -- he let his life go out without great pain.⁴