Nietzsche on Thales

Being a noob to this whole philosophy thing, I've only been exposed to only small out of context fragments of Nietzsche's work. I must say, after reading for this assignment, I'm absolutely blown away . Not only does he have brilliant thoughts, but in employing those thoughts, he uses some of the most powerful imagery I've come across. 

Philosophy In the Tragic Age of the Greeks is, more or less, a  historical and philosophical commentary by Nietzsche on figures and philosophies of the classic era. He begins by claiming that the ancient astronomer Thales proposition of a watery ἄρχε as the genesis of Greek philosophy. He asserts that no one before Thales had the belief that everything is connected. Even though Thales idea had some obvious flaws, he used his imagination and saw beyond observable evidence and personal experience. He then speaks about how using one's imagination to see beyond the plainly evident is a central tenant of philosophy. In much more eloquent words than my own Nietzsche says, "Philosophy leaps ahead on tiny  toeholds;  hope and intuition lend wings to its feet. Calculating  reason limbers  heavily  behind, 

looking for better footholds, for reason too wants to reach that alluring goal which its divine comrade  has long since reached." 

He later goes on to praise Thales on challenging the Greek notion that Man is the center of the universe. If everything is truly water, than Man cannot be the center of the universe because he is made of water and must take on a secondary role. 

Even though Nietzsche knows that water is not the ἄρχε he praises Thales for thinking it. I wonder if Nietzsche believes in an ἄρχε? And if so, what is it? And what does man have to do with it?

Zip it up and zip it out.