Brief biography of Pythagoras. Biography of Pythagoras: interesting facts

Name: Pythagoras (Pythagoras)

Date of Birth: 570 BC e.

Age: 80 years old

Date of death: 490 BC e.

Activity: philosopher, mathematician, mystic

Family status: was married

Pythagoras: biography

The biography of Pythagoras of Samos takes readers into the world of ancient Greek culture. This man can safely be called a legendary person. Pythagoras was a great mathematician, mystic, philosopher, founded a religious and philosophical movement (Pythagoreanism), was a political figure who left his works as a legacy to posterity.

Childhood and youth

It is difficult to determine the exact date of birth of Pythagoras. Historians have established the approximate period of his birth - 580 BC. Place of birth - the Greek island of Samos.

The philosopher's mother's name was Parthenia (Partenida, Pythiades), and his father's name was Mnesarchus. According to legend, one day a young couple visited the city of Delphi as a honeymoon trip. There, the newlyweds met an oracle who prophesied to the lovers that their son would soon appear. The legend said that the child would become a difficult person, famous for his wisdom, appearance, great deeds.

Soon the prophecy began to come true, the girl gave birth to a boy and, in accordance with ancient tradition, received the name Pythiades. The baby is named Pythagoras in honor of the priestess of Apollo Pythia. The father of the future mathematician tried in every possible way to fulfill the divine tradition. Happy Mnesarchus erects an altar to Apollo, and surrounds the child with care and love.

Some sources also say that two more boys were brought up in the family - the older brothers of the Greek philosopher: Evnost and Tyrrhenus.

Pythagoras' father was a master in the processing of gold stones, there was prosperity in the family. Even as a child, the boy showed curiosity in various sciences, and was distinguished by unusual abilities.

The first teacher of the future philosopher was Germodamant. He taught Pythagoras the basics of music, the technologies of painting, reading, rhetoric, and grammar. To help Pythagoras develop his memory, the teacher made him read the Odyssey and the Iliad and memorize songs from poems.

A few years later, an 18-year-old guy with a ready baggage of knowledge went to Egypt to continue his education with wise priests, but in those years it was difficult to get there: it was closed to the Greeks. Then Pythagoras temporarily stopped on the island of Lesbos and here he studied physics, dialectics, theogony, astrology, and medicine with Pherekides of Syros.

Pythagoras lived on the island for several years, and then went to Miletus, the city where the famous Thales lived, who was noted in history as the founder of the first philosophical school in Greece.

The Milesian school allowed Pythagoras to acquire knowledge, but, following the advice of Thales, the young man goes to Egypt to continue the path of education.

Here Pythagoras meets the priests, visits Egyptian temples closed to strangers, joins their secrets and traditions, and soon he himself receives the rank of priest. Studying in a culturally developed city made Pythagoras the most educated person of those times.

Mysticism and Homecoming

Ancient legends claim that in Babylon a talented philosopher and a divinely beautiful person (confirmation of this is a photo of a mathematician made on the basis of paintings by ancient artists, sculptures) met with Persian magicians. Pythagoras joined the study of mystical events, learned the wisdom and peculiarities of astronomy, arithmetic, medicine of the eastern peoples.

The Chaldeans tied supernatural ideas to the emergence of these sciences, and this approach was reflected in the subsequent sounds of Pythagoras's knowledge in the field of mathematics and philosophy.

12 years after the forced stay of Pythagoras in Babylon, the sage is freed by the Persian king, who has already heard about the famous teachings of the Greek. Pythagoras returns to his homeland, where he begins to impart knowledge to his own people.

The philosopher quickly gained wide popularity among the inhabitants. Even women who were forbidden to attend mass gatherings came to hear him speak. At one of these events, Pythagoras met his future wife.

A person with a high level of knowledge had to work as a teacher with people of low morality. He became for the people the personification of purity, a kind of deity. Pythagoras mastered the methods of Egyptian priests, knew how to purify the souls of listeners, filled their minds with knowledge.

The sage performed mainly on the streets, in temples, but after that he began to teach everyone in his own house. This is a special training system, characterized by complexity. The probationary period for students was 3-5 years. Listeners were forbidden to speak during the lessons, to ask questions, which trained them in modesty and patience.

Maths

A skilled orator and a wise teacher taught people various sciences: medicine, political activity, music, mathematics, etc. Later, well-known figures, historians, government officials, astronomers, and researchers emerged from the school of Pythagoras.

Pythagoras made a significant contribution to geometry. Today, the name of a popular ancient figure is known based on the study of the famous Pythagorean theorem in schools through mathematical problems. Here is how the formula for solving some Pythagorean problems looks like: a2 + b2 = c2. In this case, a and b are the lengths of the legs, and c is the length of the hypotenuse of the right triangle.

At the same time, there is also the inverse Pythagorean theorem, developed by other equally competent mathematicians, but today in science there are only 367 proofs of the Pythagorean theorem, which indicates its fundamental importance for geometry in general.

The Pythagorean table is today known as the multiplication table.

Another invention of the great Greek scientist was the "table of Pythagoras". Now it is customary to call it the multiplication table, according to which the students of the philosopher's school studied in those years.

An interesting finding of the past years was the mathematical dependence of the vibrating strings of the lyre on their length in musical performance. This approach can be safely applied to other tools.

Numerology

The philosopher paid close attention to numbers, trying to understand their nature, the meaning of things and phenomena. He tied numerical properties to the life categories of being: humanity, death, illness, suffering, etc.

It was the Pythagoreans who divided the numbers into even and odd. Something important (justice and equality) for life on the planet was seen by Pythagoras in the square of a number. Nine characterized constancy, number eight - death.

Even numbers were assigned to the female sex, odd numbers to the male representation, and the symbol of marriage among the followers of the teachings of Pythagoras was five (3 + 2).

Numerological squares of Pythagoras

Thanks to the knowledge of Pythagoras, even today people have the opportunity to find out the level of compatibility with their future half, to look under the curtain of the future. To do this, you can use the numerological system of the square of Pythagoras. "Game" with certain numbers (date, day, month of birth) will allow you to build a graph that clearly shows the picture of a person's fate.

The followers of Pythagoras believed that numbers could incredibly affect the surrounding world of society. The main thing is to understand their chain meaning. There are positive and bad numbers, like thirteen or seventeen. Numerology, as a science, is not recognized as official, it is considered a system of beliefs and knowledge, but no more.

Philosophical doctrine

The teachings of the philosophy of Pythagoras should be divided into two parts:

1. Scientific approach to world knowledge.
2. Religiosity and mysticism.

Not all of Pythagoras' works have been preserved. The great master and sage wrote practically nothing, but was mainly engaged in oral teaching of those who wished to learn the intricacies of a particular science. Information about the knowledge of the philosopher was transmitted later by his followers - the Pythagoreans.

It is known that Pythagoras was a religious innovator, created a secret society, and preached acoustic principles. He forbade his students to eat food of animal origin, and especially the heart, which is primarily a symbol of life. It was not allowed to touch the beans, according to legend, obtained from the blood of Dionysus-Zagreus. Pythagoras condemned the use of alcohol, foul language and other ignorant behavior.

The philosopher believed that a person can save and free his soul through physical and moral purification. His teachings can be compared with the ancient Vedic knowledge, based on the quantitative transmigration of the soul from heaven into the body of an animal or human until it earns the right to return to God in heaven.

Pythagoras did not impose his philosophy on ordinary people who were only trying to comprehend the basics of the exact sciences. His special teachings were intended for truly "enlightened", chosen individuals.

Personal life

Returning from Babylonian captivity to his homeland in Greece, Pythagoras met an unusually beautiful girl named Theana, who secretly attended his meetings. The ancient philosopher was then already in adulthood (56-60 years). The lovers got married, in marriage they had two children: a boy and a girl (names unknown).

Some historical sources claim that Theana was the daughter of Brontin, a philosopher, friend and student of Pythagoras.

Death

The school of Pythagoras was located in the Greek colony of the city of Croton (Southern Italy). A democratic uprising took place here, as a result of which Pythagoras was forced to leave the place. He went to Metapont, but military clashes reached this town as well.

On this bank was the school of Pythagoras

The famous philosopher had many enemies who did not share his principles of life. There are three versions of the death of Pythagoras. According to the first, the killer was a man whom a mathematician once refused to teach secret occult techniques. Being in feelings of hatred, the rejected set fire to the building of the Academy of Pythagoras, and the philosopher died, saving the students.

The second legend says that in the burning house the followers of the scientist created a bridge from their own bodies, wanting to save their teacher. And Pythagoras died of a broken heart, underestimating his efforts in the development of mankind.

A common version of the death of a sage is considered to be his death under random circumstances during a skirmish in Metapontum. At the time of his death, Pythagoras was 80-90 years old.

Judging by the brief biography of Pythagoras, his life was filled with amazing events, and his contemporaries considered him perhaps the most outstanding scientist of all times and peoples, initiated into all the secrets of the Universe.

Historical evidence of the origin of Pythagoras has been preserved. His father was Mnesarchus, originally from Tyre, who received the citizenship of Samos, and his mother was Parthenides or Pythais, who was a relative of Ancaeus, the founder of the Greek colony on Samos.

Education

If you follow the official biography of Pythagoras, then at the age of 18 he went to Egypt, to the court of Pharaoh Amasis, to whom he was sent by the Samian tyrant Polycrates. Thanks to patronage, Pythagoras got into training with the Egyptian priests and was admitted to the temple libraries. It is believed that the sage spent about 22 years in Egypt.

Babylonian captivity

Pythagoras came to Babylon as a prisoner of King Cambyses. He stayed in the country for about 12 years, studying with local magicians and priests. At the age of 56, he returned to his native Samos.

philosophical school

Evidence indicates that after all his wanderings, Pythagoras settled in Crotone (Southern Italy). There he founded a philosophical school, more like a kind of religious order (the followers of Pythagoras considered it possible to transmigrate the soul and reincarnate; they believed that a person should earn a place in the world of the Gods with good deeds, and until this happens, the soul will return to Earth, " moving into the body of an animal or a person), where not only knowledge was promoted, but also a special way of life.

It was Pythagoras and his students, in whom the authority of the teacher was indisputable, who introduced the words "philosophy" and "philosopher" into circulation. This order actually came to power in Crotone, but due to the spread of anti-Pythagorean sentiments, the philosopher was forced to leave for the city of Metapont, where he died, around 491 BC.

Personal life

The name of Pythagoras' wife, Theano, is known. It is also known that the philosopher had a son and a daughter.

Discoveries

It is Pythagoras, according to most researchers, who owns the discovery of the well-known theorem that the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs.

The eternal opponent of Pythagoras was Heraclitus, who believed that "much knowledge" is not a sign of a true philosophical mind. Aristotle never quoted Pythagoras in his writings, but Plato considered Pythagoras the greatest philosopher of Greece, bought the works of the Pythagoreans and often quoted their judgments in his writings.

Other biography options

• Interestingly, the birth of Pythagoras was predicted by the Delphic Pythia (hence the name, because “Pythagoras” in Greek means “foretold by the Pythia”). The boy's father was warned that his son would be born extraordinarily gifted and would bring many benefits to people.
• Many biographers describe the life of Pythagoras in different ways. There are certain discrepancies in the works of Heraclid, Ephsebius of Caesarea, Diogenes, Porphyry. According to the works of the latter, the philosopher either died as a result of the anti-Pythagorean rebellion, or starved himself to death in one of the temples, as he was not satisfied with the results of his work.
• There is an opinion that Pythagoras was a vegetarian and only occasionally allowed himself to eat fish. Asceticism in everything is one of the components of the teachings of the Pythagorean philosophical school.

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Influenced by:

The life story of Pythagoras is difficult to separate from the legends that represent him as a perfect sage and a great initiate into all the mysteries of the Greeks and barbarians. Even Herodotus called him "the greatest Hellenic sage".

The main sources on the life and teachings of Pythagoras are the writings of the Neoplatonic philosopher Iamblichus (242-306) " About the Pythagorean life»; Porfiry (234-305) " Life of Pythagoras»; Diogenes Laertes (200-250) book. 8, " Pythagoras". These authors relied on the writings of earlier authors, of which it should be noted Aristotle's student Aristoxenus (370-300 BC), originally from Tarentum, where the positions of the Pythagoreans were strong.

Thus, the earliest known sources about the teachings of Pythagoras appeared only 200 years after his death. Pythagoras himself did not leave any writings, and all information about him and his teachings is based on the works of his followers, who are not always impartial.

Biography

Pythagoras' parents were Mnesarchus and Partenida from the island of Samos. Mnesarchus was a stone cutter (Diogenes Laertius); according to Porphyry, he was a rich merchant from Tyre, who received Samian citizenship for the distribution of grain in a lean year. The first version is preferable, since Pausanias cites the genealogy of Pythagoras in the male line from Hippasus from the Peloponnesian Phlius, who fled to Samos and became Pythagoras' great-grandfather. Partenida, later renamed Pythaida by her husband, came from the noble family of Ankey, the founder of the Greek colony on Samos.

The birth of a child was allegedly predicted by the Pythia in Delphi, therefore Pythagoras got his name, which means " the one announced by Pythia". In particular, the Pythia informed Mnesarchus that Pythagoras would bring as much benefit and good to people as no one else had and would bring in the future. Therefore, to celebrate, Mnesarchus gave his wife a new name Pythaida and gave the name of the child Pythagoras. Pythaida accompanied her husband on his travels, and Pythagoras was born in Sidon of Phoenicia (according to Iamblichus) in about 570 BC. e.

According to ancient authors, Pythagoras met with almost all the famous sages of that era, Greeks, Persians, Chaldeans, Egyptians, absorbed all the knowledge accumulated by mankind. In popular literature, Pythagoras is sometimes credited with the Olympic victory in boxing, confusing Pythagoras the philosopher with his namesake (Pythagoras, son of Crates of Samos), who won his victory at the 48th Games 18 years before the birth of the famous philosopher.

At a young age, Pythagoras went to Egypt to gain wisdom and secret knowledge from the Egyptian priests. Diogenes and Porfiry write that the Samian tyrant Polycrates supplied Pythagoras with a letter of recommendation to Pharaoh Amasis, thanks to which he was admitted to training and initiated into the sacraments forbidden to other strangers.

« The Pythagoreans formed a large community (there were more than three hundred of them), but it was only a small part of the city, which was no longer governed according to the same customs and mores. However, while the Crotonians owned their land, and Pythagoras was with them, the state structure that existed from the founding of the city was preserved, although there were dissatisfied people who were waiting for an opportunity for a coup. But when Sybaris was conquered, Pythagoras left, and the Pythagoreans, who ruled the conquered land, did not distribute it by lot, as the majority wanted, then hidden hatred flared up, and many citizens opposed them ... Relatives of the Pythagoreans were even more annoyed at what they served right hand only to their own, and from relatives - only to parents, and that they provide their property for common use, and it is separated from the property of relatives. When the relatives started this enmity, the rest readily joined the conflict... After many years... the Crotonians were seized with regret and remorse, and they decided to return to the city those Pythagoreans who were still alive.»

Many Pythagoreans died, the survivors scattered throughout Italy and Greece. The German historian F. Schlosser remarks about the defeat of the Pythagoreans: “ The attempt to transfer caste and clerical life to Greece and, contrary to the spirit of the people, to change its political structure and mores according to the requirements of an abstract theory ended in complete failure.»

According to Porphyry, Pythagoras himself died as a result of the anti-Pythagorean rebellion in Metapontum, but other authors do not confirm this version, although they willingly convey the story that the dejected philosopher starved himself to death in the sacred temple.

Philosophical doctrine

The teachings of Pythagoras should be divided into two components: a scientific approach to understanding the world and a religious and mystical way of life preached by Pythagoras. The merits of Pythagoras in the first part are not known for certain, since he was later credited with everything created by followers within the framework of the Pythagorean school. The second part prevails in the teachings of Pythagoras, and it was she who remained in the minds of most ancient authors.

The merit of the Pythagoreans was the advancement of the idea of ​​the quantitative laws of the development of the world, which contributed to the development of mathematical, physical, astronomical and geographical knowledge. The basis of things is the number, Pythagoras taught, to know the world means to know the numbers that control it. By studying numbers, the Pythagoreans developed numerical relationships and found them in all areas of human activity. Numbers and proportions were studied in order to cognize and describe the soul of a person, and having cognized, to control the process of transmigration of souls with the ultimate goal of sending the soul to some higher divine state.

Despite the common opinion that Pythagoras was allegedly a vegetarian, Diogenes Laersky writes that Pythagoras occasionally ate fish, abstained only from arable bulls and rams, and allowed other animals for food.

Pythagoras was criticized by his contemporary Heraclitus: Pythagoras, the son of Mnesarches, was engaged in collecting information more than all people in the world, and, having pulled these works for himself, he passed off knowledge and fraud as his own wisdom.» . According to Diogenes Laertes, in the continuation of the well-known saying of Heraclitus “Much knowledge does not teach the mind”, Pythagoras is mentioned among others: “otherwise Hesiod and Pythagoras would have taught, as well as Xenophanes and Hecateus”.

Scientific achievements

Coin with the image of Pythagoras

In the modern world, Pythagoras is considered the great mathematician and cosmologist of antiquity, but early evidence before the 3rd century. BC e. no mention of his merits. As Iamblichus writes about the Pythagoreans: They also had a remarkable habit of attributing everything to Pythagoras and not at all claiming the glory of being a discoverer, except perhaps in a few cases.»

In the III century. BC e. a compilation of the sayings of Pythagoras appeared, known as the “Sacred Word”, from which the so-called “Golden Verses” later arose (sometimes they are attributed to the 4th century BC without good reason). For the first time quotations from these verses are quoted by Chrysippus in the 3rd century. BC e. , although, perhaps, at that time the compilation had not yet developed into a finished form. The final excerpt from the "Golden Poems" translated by I. Peter:

But you be firm: the divine race is present in mortals,
To them, proclaiming, sacred nature reveals everything.
If this is not alien to you, you will fulfill orders,
You will heal your soul and save you from many disasters.
Dishes, I said, leave those that I indicated in the cleansings.
And be guided by true knowledge - the best charioteer.
If you, leaving the body, ascend into the free ether,
You will become incorruptible, and eternal, and death does not know God.

Notes

Sources and links

	Pythagoras at Wikiquote
	Pythagoras at Wikimedia Commons

• Iamblichus, On the Pythagorean Life
• Diogenes Laertius, Pythagoras
• Porfiry, Life of Pythagoras
• "Golden verses" of the Pythagoreans in the Alexander Kobrinsky Library
• Besonides, Pythagorean Word

Literature

• Zhmud L.Ya. Pythagoras and the early Pythagoreans. M., 2012. - 445 p. ISBN 978-5-91244-068-7
• Zhmud L. Ya. Pythagoras and his school. - M.: Nauka, 1990. - ISBN 5-02-027292-2
• Zhmud L. Ya. Science, philosophy and religion in early Pythagoreanism. - St. Petersburg, 1994. - 376 p. - ISBN 5-86050-066-1
• Fragments of early Greek philosophers. Part 1: From Epic Theocosmogonies to the Rise of Atomism, Ed. A. V. Lebedev. - M.: Nauka, 1989. - p. 138-149.
• Leontiev A.V. The tradition of Pythagoras in Aristoxenus and Dicearchus // Man. Nature. Society. Actual problems. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Young Scientists December 27-30, 2000 - St. Petersburg University Press. 2000. - S. 298-301.
• Leontiev A.V. On the question of the image of Pythagoras in the ancient tradition of the 6th-5th centuries BC. e. // Mnemon. Research and publications on the history of the ancient world. Edited by Professor E. D. Frolov. - Issue 3. - St. Petersburg, 2004.
• Panchenko D.V. The Pythagorean Paradox // Indo-European linguistics and classical philology - XII: Materials of readings dedicated to the memory of prof. I. M. Tronsky June 23-25, 2008, pp. 355-363.
• Sigachev A. A. Pythagoras (popular science essay) // Electronic journal “Knowledge. Understanding. Skill ». - 2010. - No. 6 - History.

see also

The great ancient Greek philosopher, politician, mathematician and astronomer Pythagoras is the founder of many scientific disciplines, teachings and concepts. His biography is complex, interesting and mysterious so much that it is not always possible to separate the facts from the life of the great scientist and sage from legends and fiction. However, it is generally recognized that important facts from the life of Pythagoras were recorded by his students from various parts of the world.
According to scientists, Pythagoras was born around 570 BC. in the city of Sidon, the current territory of modern Lebanon. His father Mnesarchus is a wealthy jeweler and merchant, who was able to create excellent conditions for his son to receive a good education and great knowledge.
The origin of the name Pythagoras is shrouded in legend. According to legend, once the young parents of Pythagoras went to Delphi on a honeymoon trip. It was here that the priestess (and according to some sources, the oracle) predicted that Mnesarchus would have a son and that he would become famous for many centuries for his wisdom and deeds. The prophecy came true, and as a thank you to the priestess who worshiped the Pythian Apollo, the boy is called Pythagoras, which means predicted by the Pythia (priestess).
From early childhood, Pythagoras studied a lot, visited the best temples of Greece, and in his teens he got acquainted with the works of the greatest sages of that time. According to researchers of antiquity, he personally met with many figures of that era. Among them, we note Pherekides of Syros, an ancient Greek cosmologist, one of the most important teachers of Pythagoras. It is to him that the future philosopher owes his deep knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and physics. An equally important place in the formation of the personality of Pythagoras was occupied by communication with Hermodamant, who taught love for art, poetry and music on the example of the works of Homer.
The next stage of the biography of Pythagoras is made up of his life experience based on travels to foreign lands. Through Phoenicia, he sends to Egypt, with the ancient priests, their faith, and even, despite the status of a foreigner, visits Egyptian temples.
Later, in Egypt, he creates his own school, in which he teaches those who wish the exact sciences and philosophy. Pythagoras spent considerable time in this country - about two decades. During this time, he had many supporters and followers who proudly called themselves Pythagoreans. During this period of life, Pythagoras introduces the concept of "philosopher" into everyday life and classifies himself as one of it. According to the scientist, the "sage" and the "philosopher" are completely different in their meanings and goals. A philosopher, on the other hand, is one who “tryes to know” everything and always.
Having behind him many outstanding discoveries made on Egyptian soil, Pythagoras, as a prisoner of the Persian king Cambyses, ends up in Babylon and spends twelve years there. Here he actively devotes himself to the study of Eastern culture and religion, compares the features of their development in the countries of the Middle East and Greece. After that, Pythagoras visits Phoenicia, Syria and Hindustan, where he further increases his knowledge in the natural sciences, achieves new achievements and discoveries in every area.
In 530 B.C. the philosopher finds himself in the southern Italian city of Croton. It is here that Pythagoras receives universal fame, he is quoted and praised, and the founding of the Pythagorean school becomes the apogee. It is also called philosophical brotherhood or union in another way. Only those who are already well versed in the mathematical sciences and have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bastronomy can study here.
At the age of 60, Pythagoras falls in love with his student named Theano. Three children are born in their marriage.
Unfortunately, in 500 BC. mass persecution began against Pythagoras and his school. As the main reason, scientists believe his refusal to take the son of a wealthy official into his ranks. After numerous unrest and riots that enveloped the city of Croton, Pythagoras disappeared, but he did not leave science and philosophy until the end of his days.

Pythagoras of Samos went down in history as one of the most prominent intellectuals of mankind. There are many unusual things in him, and it seems that fate itself has prepared for him a special life path.

Pythagoras created his own religious and philosophical school and became famous as one of the greatest mathematicians. His mind and ingenuity were hundreds of years ahead of the time in which he lived.

Pythagoras of Samos

Brief biography of Pythagoras

Of course, a brief biography of Pythagoras will not give us the opportunity to fully reveal this unique personality, but nevertheless we will highlight the main moments of his life.

Childhood and youth

The exact date of Pythagoras' birth is unknown. Historians suggest that he was born between 586-569. BC, on the Greek island of Samos (hence its nickname - "Samos"). According to one legend, the parents of Pythagoras were predicted that their son would become a great sage and enlightener.

Pythagoras' father was called Mnesarchus, and his mother was Parthenia. The head of the family was engaged in the processing of precious stones, so the family was quite wealthy.

Upbringing and education

Already at an early age, Pythagoras showed interest in various sciences and art. His first teacher was called Hermodamant. He laid the foundations of music, painting and grammar in the future scientist, and also forced him to memorize passages from Homer's Odyssey and Iliad.

When Pythagoras was 18 years old, he decided to go to Egypt to gain even more knowledge and experience. This was a serious step in his biography, but he was not destined to come true. Pythagoras was unable to enter Egypt because it was closed to the Greeks.

Stopping on the island of Lesbos, Pythagoras began to study physics, medicine, dialectics and other sciences from Pherekides of Syros. After living on the island for several years, he wanted to visit Miletus, where the famous philosopher Thales still lived, who formed the first philosophical school in Greece.

Very soon, Pythagoras becomes one of the most educated and famous people of his time. However, after some time, drastic changes take place in the biography of the sage, as the Persian war began.

Pythagoras falls into Babylonian captivity and lives in captivity for a long time.

Mysticism and Homecoming

Due to the fact that astrology and mysticism were popular in Babylon, Pythagoras became addicted to the study of various mystical mysteries, customs and supernatural phenomena. The whole biography of Pythagoras is full of search and solutions of all kinds, which so attracted his attention.

After being in captivity for more than 10 years, he unexpectedly receives liberation personally from the Persian king, who knew firsthand about the wisdom of the learned Greek.

Once free, Pythagoras immediately returns to his homeland to tell his compatriots about the acquired knowledge.

School of Pythagoras

Thanks to extensive knowledge, constant and oratory, he manages to quickly gain fame and recognition among the inhabitants of Greece.

At the speeches of Pythagoras there are always many people who are amazed at the wisdom of the philosopher and see in him almost a deity.

One of the main points of the biography of Pythagoras is the fact that he created a school based on his own principles of understanding the world. It was called that: the school of the Pythagoreans, that is, the followers of Pythagoras.

He also had his own way of teaching. For example, students were not allowed to talk during class and were not allowed to ask any questions.

Thanks to this, the disciples could cultivate modesty, meekness and patience.

To a modern person, these things may seem strange, but do not forget that in the time of Pythagoras the very concept schooling in our understanding simply didn't exist.

Maths

In addition to medicine, politics and art, Pythagoras was most seriously involved in mathematics. He managed to make a significant contribution to the development of geometry.

Until now, in schools around the world, the Pythagorean theorem is considered the most popular theorem: a 2 + b 2 \u003d c 2. Every student remembers that "Pythagorean pants are equal in all directions."

In addition, there is a "Pythagorean table", with which it was possible to multiply numbers. In fact, this is a modern multiplication table, just in a slightly different form.

Numerology of Pythagoras

There is a remarkable thing in the biography of Pythagoras: he was extremely interested in numbers all his life. With their help, he tried to understand the nature of things and phenomena, life and death, suffering, happiness and other important issues of life.

He associated the number 9 with constancy, 8 with death, and he also paid great attention to the square of numbers. In this sense, the perfect number was 10. Pythagoras called the ten the symbol of the Cosmos.

The Pythagoreans were the first to divide numbers into even and odd. Even numbers, according to the mathematician, had a feminine principle, while odd numbers had a masculine one.

In those days when there was no science as such, people learned about life and the world order as best they could. Pythagoras, as a great son of his time, tried to find answers to these and other questions with the help of figures and numbers.

Philosophical doctrine

The teachings of Pythagoras can be divided into two categories:

• Scientific approach
• Religiosity and mysticism

Unfortunately, not all the works of Pythagoras were saved. And all due to the fact that the scientist practically did not make any notes, transferring knowledge to students orally.

In addition to being a scientist and philosopher, Pythagoras can rightly be called a religious innovator. In this, Leo Tolstoy was a bit like him (we published it in a separate article).

Pythagoras was a vegetarian and encouraged his followers to do so. He did not allow the students to eat food of animal origin, forbade them to drink alcohol, swear and behave obscenely.

It is also interesting that Pythagoras did not teach ordinary people who sought to obtain only superficial knowledge. He accepted as disciples only those in whom he saw selected and enlightened individuals.

Personal life

Studying the biography of Pythagoras, one may get the erroneous impression that he did not have time for his personal life. However, this is not quite true.

When Pythagoras was about 60 years old, at one of his performances he met a beautiful girl named Theana.

They got married, and from this marriage they had a boy and a girl. So the outstanding Greek was a family man.

Death

Surprisingly, none of the biographers can unequivocally say how the great philosopher and mathematician died. There are three versions of his death.

According to the first, Pythagoras was killed by one of the students whom he refused to teach. In a fit of anger, the killer set fire to the Academy of the scientist, where he died.

The second version tells that during the fire, the adherents of the scientist, wanting to save him from death, created a bridge from their own bodies.

But the most common version of the death of Pythagoras is his death during an armed conflict in the city of Metapont.

The great scientist lived for more than 80 years, dying in 490 BC. e. During his long life he managed to do a lot, and he is quite rightly considered one of the most outstanding minds in history.

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