Pythagoras of Samos (570-490 BC) - Ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, founder of the religious and philosophical school of the Pythagoreans.

The parents of Pythagoras came from the island of Samos. According to some sources, the scientist's father was a stone cutter, and according to others, a wealthy merchant. Mother Pythagoras was from the noble family of Ankei, who was the founder of the Greek colony of Samos. According to legend, the birth of the scientist was predicted by the Pythia in Delphi. Note that the name Pythagoras literally means "the one announced by the Pythia." The scientist was born in Sidon Phoenician.

Ancient authors claim that Pythagoras communicated with many famous sages of his era (Greeks, Chaldeans, Persians, Egyptians). In particular, in his youth, he went to Egypt, where he met the local priests. Some authors claim that he penetrated the mysteries that were forbidden to foreigners.

Then Pythagoras was among the captives of the Persian king Cambyses to Babylon. Here he stayed for about 12 years, until he returned to Samos at the age of 56. Ancient authors note that upon his return to his homeland, his compatriots recognized him as a sage.

But there is also another version. In particular, according to Porfiry, the scientist left his homeland at the age of 40, because he did not agree with the tyrannical rule of Polycrates. Thus, it is not known whether the mathematician visited Babylon and Egypt. Although modern historians argue that Pythagoras could leave Samos not so much because of disagreements with the authorities, but because of a desire to preach his doctrine. If we adhere to this opinion, then after leaving his homeland, Pythagoras settled in Crotone (Southern Italy). Here he found many followers who were attracted by his philosophy and way of life.

The disciples of Pythagoras formed a kind of brotherhood of initiates, which consisted of a caste of selected like-minded people who deified their teacher. For a long time he had a huge impact in the mentioned Greek colony. But due to anti-Pythagorean sentiments in Croton, the philosopher was forced to move to Metapont, where he died. So, there is a legend that the dejected Pythagoras starved himself to death.

The followers of Pythagoras tried to change the legislation in their cities. But the majority of the population did not share the ideals of the philosopher, which resulted in riots in Tarentum and Croton. Many Pythagoreans died in these skirmishes, while others scattered throughout Greece and Italy. Porfiry notes that Pythagoras himself died during the anti-Pythagorean rebellion in Metapont.

Philosophical doctrine of Pythagoras

Modern historians break the teachings of Pythagoras into 2 parts:

• religious and mystical way of life;
• scientific approach to comprehend the world.

For example, Aristotle characterizes Pythagoras as the founder of a semi-religious cult that forbids eating beans. But Plato treated the mathematician with deep respect. In fact, Pythagoras created a secret society that set itself not only political goals, but also worked on moral and physical purification. In particular, the Pythagoreans believed that the soul moves from heaven to the body of an animal or human until it earns the right to return to heaven again.

Among the merits of the Pythagoreans, it is worth highlighting the propaganda of the idea of ​​the quantitative laws of the development of the world. Pythagoras believed that the universe is based on number. In his opinion, the knowledge of the world consists in the knowledge of the numbers that govern it. As a result, the Pythagoreans developed different numerical relationships in many areas of human activity.

Scientific achievements

Now Pythagoras is considered a great mathematician and cosmologist, but early sources do not mention such his merits. For example, Iamblichus writes that the Pythagoreans often attributed their own discoveries to Pythagoras. In particular, the philosopher is given the authorship of a well-known theorem. But many modern researchers are of the opinion that Pythagoras did not prove this theorem, but simply transmitted the knowledge known in Babylon long before his birth. Some attribute to Pythagoras the discovery that the earth is a sphere. But Diogenes Laertius argues that such a judgment was expressed by Anaximander of Miletus, who taught Pythagoras in his youth. Nevertheless, the scientific merits of the Pythagorean school in cosmology and mathematics are indisputable.

Herodotus called Pythagoras "the greatest Hellenic sage."

Pythagoras did not leave his own writings, all information about his life and teaching is based on the works of his followers. Most early sources about the teachings of Pythagoras created 200 years after his death.

As a result of one of his speeches, Pythagoras acquired 2 thousand students. Together with their families, they formed a school where the laws and rules of the famous ancient mathematician were in force.

Since Pythagoras believed that human souls can move into animals, he and his students adhered to vegetarianism. Although some of the scientist's requirements are now perceived as funny incidents. For example, the Pythagoreans did not allow swallows to nest under the roofs of houses and could not touch white roosters.

There is a mug named after Pythagoras. It is also known as the greed circle. In the center of this seemingly ordinary vessel is a small column. This mug can be filled up to a certain level. If you pour it to the brim, then the entire contents of the vessel will flow out. Thus, the "circle of greed" helps not to forget about the sense of proportion. This is one of the most popular Greek souvenirs.

One of the craters of the Moon was named in honor of Pythagoras.

A contemporary of the philosopher Heraclitus believed that Pythagoras passed off ordinary knowledge and fraud as his own wisdom.

Pythagoras had a wife Theano, a daughter Mnya and a son Telavg (according to another version, a daughter of Arignot and a son of Arimnest).

Pythagoras of Samos (580-500 BC) - Ancient Greek thinker, mathematician and mystic. He created the religious and philosophical school of the Pythagoreans.

The life story of Pythagoras is difficult to separate from the legends that represent him as a perfect sage and a great initiate in all the mysteries of the Greeks and barbarians. Herodotus also called him "the greatest Hellenic sage." The main sources on the life and teachings of Pythagoras are the works of the Neoplatonist philosopher Iamblichus, “O Pythagorean life"; Porfiry "The Life of Pythagoras"; Diogenes Laertius, "Pythagoras". These authors relied on the writings of earlier authors, of which the student of Aristotle Aristoxenus, a native of Tarentum, where the positions of the Pythagoreans were strong, should be noted.

Brief biography of Pythagoras:

The earliest known sources about the teachings of this thinker appeared only 200 years after his death. However, it is on them that the biography of Pythagoras is based. He himself did not leave compositions to the descendants, therefore all information about his teaching and personality is based only on the works of his followers, who were not always impartial.

Pythagoras was born in Phoenician Sidon around 580 (according to other sources, around 570) BC. NS. Parents of Pythagoras - Partenida and Mnesarch from the island of Samos. Pythagoras' father was, according to one version, a stone cutter, according to another - a wealthy merchant who received the citizenship of Samos for distributing bread during a famine. The first version seems preferable, since Pausanias, who testified to this, gives the genealogy of this thinker. Partenida, his mother, was later renamed by her husband to Pythaida. She came from the family of Ankei, a noble person who founded a Greek colony on Samos.

The great biography of Pythagoras was supposedly predetermined even before his birth, which seemed to have been predicted in Delphi by Pythia, therefore he was named that way. Pythagoras means "the one who was announced by Pythia." This fortuneteller allegedly informed Mnesarch that the future great person will bring as much good and benefit to people as no one else afterwards. To celebrate, the child's father even gave a new name to his wife, Pythaida, and named his son Pythagoras "the one who was announced to be Pythia."

There is another version of the appearance of this name. Moreover, they say that this is a nickname, and he received it for the ability to speak the truth. On behalf of the priestess-soothsayer from the temple of Apollo Pythia. And its meaning is "convincing by speech."

The name of his first teacher is known. It was Hermodamas. This man, who instilled in his student a love of painting and music, introduced him to "Iliad" and "Odyssey".

As an eighteen-year-old boy, Pythagoras left his native island. After several years of traveling and meeting with sages from different lands, he arrived in Egypt. His plans include training with the priests, comprehension of ancient wisdom. In this he is helped by a letter of recommendation from the tyrant Samoss Polycrates to Pharaoh Amasis. Now he has access to something that many foreigners cannot even dream of: not only mathematics and medicine, but also the sacraments. Pythagoras spent 22 years here. And he left the country as a prisoner of the king of Persia, Cambyses, who conquered Egypt in 525 BC. The next 12 years were spent in Babylon.

He was able to return to his native Samos only at 56, and was recognized by his compatriots as the wisest of people. He also found followers here. Many are attracted by mystical philosophy, healthy asceticism and strict morality. Pythagoras preached the moral ennobling of the people. It could be achieved where power is in the hands of knowledgeable and wise people, to whom the people obey unconditionally in one thing and consciously in another, as a moral authority. It is Pythagoras that tradition attributes the introduction of words such as "philosopher" and "philosophy."

The disciples of this thinker formed a religious order, a kind of brotherhood of initiates, which consisted of a caste of like-minded people who deified the teacher. This order in Crotone actually came to power. All members of the order became vegetarians, who were forbidden to bring meat or animal beasts to the gods. Eating food of animal origin is the same as engaging in cannibalism. History has preserved even amusing orders in this almost religious order. For example, they did not allow swallows to build nests under the roofs of their houses, or they could not touch a white rooster, or eat beans. There is another version, according to which the restriction was valid only for certain types of meat.

At the end of the 6th century BC. NS. due to anti-Pythagorean sentiments, the philosopher had to go to Metapont, another Greek colony, where he died. Here, 450 years later, during the reign of Cicero (1st century BC), the crypt of this thinker was shown as a local landmark. Like the date of his birth, the exact date of Pythagoras' death is unknown, only it is assumed that he lived 80 years.

Pythagoras, according to Iamblichus, headed the secret society for 39 years. Based on this, the date of his death is 491 BC. e., when the period of the Greco-Persian wars began. Referring to Heraclides, Diogenes said that this philosopher died at the age of 80, or even 90, according to other unnamed sources. That is, the date of death from here is 490 BC. NS. (or, unlikely, 480). In his chronology, Eusebius of Caesarea indicated 497 BC as the year of death of this thinker. NS. Thus, the biography of this thinker is largely in doubt.

Scientific achievements and the works of Pythagoras:

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

1) In the field of mathematics:

Pythagoras is today considered the great cosmologist and mathematician of antiquity, but early evidence does not mention such merits. Iamblichus writes about the Pythagoreans that they had a custom to attribute all achievements to their teacher. This thinker is considered by the ancient authors to be the creator of the famous theorem that in a right-angled triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of its legs (Pythagoras' theorem). Both the biography of this philosopher and his achievements are largely dubious. The opinion about the theorem, in particular, is based on the testimony of Apollodorus the calculator, whose identity has not been established, as well as on poetic lines, the authorship of which also remains a mystery. Historians of our time suggest that this thinker did not prove the theorem, but could convey this knowledge to the Greeks, which was known for 1000 years in Babylon before the time that the biography of the mathematician Pythagoras is dated. Although there is doubt that it was this thinker who succeeded in making this discovery, no weighty arguments can be found to challenge this point vision. In addition to proving the above theorem, this mathematician is also credited with studying integers, their properties and proportions.

2) Discoveries of Aristotle in the field of cosmology:

Aristotle in his work "Metaphysics" touches on the development of cosmology, but the contribution of Pythagoras is in no way voiced in it. The thinker of interest to us is also credited with the discovery that the earth is round. However, Theophrastus, the most authoritative author on this issue, gives it to Parmenides. Despite the controversial points, the achievements in cosmology and mathematics of the Pythagorean school are indisputable. According to Aristotle, the real ones were acusmatists who followed the doctrine of transmigration of souls. They viewed mathematics as a science that came not so much from their teacher as from one of the Pythagoreans, Hippasus.

3) Works created by Pythagoras:

This thinker did not write any treatises. It was impossible to compose a work from oral instructions addressed to the common people. And the secret occult teaching, intended for the elite, could not be entrusted to the book either. Diogenes lists some of the titles of books that allegedly belonged to Pythagoras: "On Nature", "On the State", "On Education." But for the first 200 years after his death, none of the authors, including Aristotle, Plato, as well as their successors in the Lyceum and the Academy, cites any quotations from the works of Pythagoras and does not even indicate their existence. Ancient writers from the beginning new era were unknown written works Pythagoras. This is reported by Josephus Flavius, Plutarch, Galen. A compilation of the statements of this thinker appeared in the III century BC. NS. It's called The Sacred Word. Later, the "Golden Poems" arose from it (which sometimes, without good reason, are referred to the IV century BC, when the biography of Pythagoras is considered by various authors).

4) Mug of Pythagoras:

Quite a clever invention. It is not possible to pour it to the brim, because the entire contents of the mug will flow out at once. The liquid should only be in it up to a certain level. It looks like an ordinary mug, which distinguishes it from others by the column in the center. It got the name "greed circles". Even today in Greece it is in high demand. And for those who do not know the measures in the consumption of alcohol, it is even recommended.

5) Oratorical talent:

In Pythagoras nobody questions it. He was a great speaker. It is known for certain that after his very first public lecture, he had students, two thousand. Whole families, they, imbued with the ideas of their teacher, were ready to start new life... Their Pythagorean community became a kind of state within a state. All the rules and laws developed by the Teacher operated in their Magna Graecia. The property here was collective, even scientific discoveries, which, by the way, were attributed exclusively to Pythagoras, belonged to his personal merits even when the teacher was no longer alive.

Pythagoras - wallpapers.

* Two things make a person godlike: living for the good of society and being truthful.

* Just as old wine is unsuitable for drinking a lot, so rough handling is unsuitable for an interview.

* Protect the tears of your children so that they can shed them on your grave.

* It is equally dangerous and insane to hand over a sword to a dishonest one.

* Do not consider yourself a great person by the size of your shadow at sunset.

* Of two people of equal strength, the one who is right is stronger.

* No matter how short the words "yes" and "no", they still require the most serious thought.

* For the knowledge of the mores of any people, try first to learn its language.

* It is more useful to throw a stone at random than an empty word.

* Live with people so that your friends do not become enemies, and enemies become friends.

* No one should overstep the measure either in food or in drinking.

* Blessed be the divine number that gave birth to gods and people.

* A joke, like salt, should be consumed with moderation.

* In order to live long, get an old wine and an old friend for yourself.

* Choose the best, and the habit will make it pleasant and easy.

* In times of anger, one should neither speak nor act.

* A statue is painted by the appearance, and a person - by his deeds.

* Flattery is like a weapon drawn in a painting. It is pleasant, but not useful.

* Do not chase after happiness: it is always in you.

30 interesting facts about Pythagoras:

1. The name of Pythagoras is famous for his theorem. And this is the most great achievement this person.

2. The name of the "father" of democracy has long been known. This is Plato. But he based his teaching on the ideas of Pythagoras, one might say, grandfather.

3. According to Pythagoras, everything in the world is reflected in numbers. His favorite number was 10.

4. None of the early evidences mentions Pythagoras's merits as the greatest cosmologist and mathematician of antiquity. And as such it is considered today.

5. Already during his lifetime, he was considered a demigod, a miracle worker and an absolute sage, a kind of Einstein of the 4th century BC. There is no more mysterious great man in history.

6.One day Pythagoras was angry with one of his disciples, who committed suicide from grief. The philosopher has since decided not to vent his irritation on people again.

7. Legends were also attributed to Pythagoras the ability to heal people, using, among other things, an excellent knowledge of various medicinal plants. The influence on those around this personality can hardly be overestimated.

8.In reality, Pythagoras is not a name, but a nickname for the great philosopher.

9.Pythagoras had an excellent memory and developed curiosity.

10. Pythagoras was a famous cosmologist.

11. The name of Pythagoras has always been surrounded by many legends during his lifetime. For example, it was believed that he was able to control spirits, knew the language of animals, knew how to divine, and birds could change the direction of flight under the influence of his speeches.

12. Pythagoras was the first to say that the soul of a person after his death is reborn again.

13. From a young age, Pythagoras was drawn to travel.

14. Pythagoras had his own school, which included 3 directions: political, religious and philosophical.

15. Pythagoras experimented with color on the psyche of people.

16. Pythagoras tried to find the harmony of numbers in nature.

17. Pythagoras considered himself in past life fighter for Troy.

18. The theory of music was developed by this talented sage.

19.Pythagoras died, saving his own students from the fire.

20. The lever was invented by this philosopher.

21 Pythagoras was a great orator. He taught this art to thousands of people.

22. In honor of Pythagoras, a crater on the moon is named.

23. Pythagoras has always been considered a mystic.

24. Pythagoras believed that the secret of all essence on Earth lies in numbers.

25. Pythagoras got married when he was 60 years old. And the student of this philosopher became his wife.

26. The first lecture given by Pythagoras brought 2000 people to him.

27. Entering the school of Pythagoras, people had to give up their property.

28. Among the followers of this sage were quite noble people.

29.The first mention of the life and work of Pythagoras became known only after 200 years have passed since the day of his death.

30. The school of Pythagoras fell under the disfavor of the state.

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

Have survived historical evidence about the origin of Pythagoras. His father was Mnesarchus, a native of Tire, who received the citizenship of Samos, and the mother of Partenides or Pythaida, who was a relative of Ankeus, 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 which he was sent by the Samos 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

Testimonies indicate that after all his wanderings, Pythagoras settled in Crotone (Southern Italy). There he founded a philosophical school, more like a certain religious order (the followers of Pythagoras believed that the transmigration of the soul and reincarnation was possible; they believed that a person should by good deeds earn a place in the world of the Gods, and until this happens, the soul will return to Earth, “ settling "in 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, for 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 the wife of Pythagoras is known - Feano. It is also known that the philosopher had a son and a daughter.

Discoveries

It was Pythagoras, according to most researchers, who discovered the famous 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 "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

• It is interesting that the birth of Pythagoras was predicted by the Delphic Pythia (hence the name, because “Pythagoras” in translation from Greek means “predicted by Pythia”). The boy's father was warned that his son would be born unusually gifted and would bring many benefits to people.
• Many biographers describe the life of Pythagoras in different ways. There are certain discrepancies in the writings of Heraclides, Ephsebius of Caesarea, Diogenes, Porfiry. According to the works of the latter, the philosopher either died as a result of the anti-Pythagorean rebellion, or he starved himself to death in one of the temples, since he was not satisfied with the results of his labor.
• 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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Pythagoras of Samos(lat. Pythagoras; 570 - 490 BC BC) - an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, the creator of the religious and philosophical school of the Pythagoreans.

The life story of Pythagoras is difficult to separate from the legends that represent Pythagoras as a demigod and miracle worker, a perfect sage and a great initiate in all the mysteries of the Greeks and barbarians. Herodotus also called him "the greatest Hellenic sage" (4.95). The main sources on the life and teachings of Pythagoras are the works that have come down to us: the neoplatonist philosopher Iamblichus (242-306) "On the Pythagorean Life"; Porphyria (234-305) "The Life of Pythagoras"; Diogenes Laertius (200-250) Prince. 8, "Pythagoras". These authors relied on the writings of earlier authors, of which the student of Aristotle Aristoxenus (370-300 BC), a native of Tarentum, where the positions of the Pythagoreans were strong, should be noted. Thus, the earliest known sources wrote about Pythagoras 200 years after his death, and Pythagoras himself did not leave his own written works, and all information about him and his teaching is based on the works of his students, who are not always impartial.

Biography

The parents of Pythagoras were Mnesarch and Partenida from Samos. Mnesarchus was a stone cutter (Diogenes Laertius); according to Porfiry, he was a wealthy merchant from Tire, who received Samos citizenship for distributing bread in a lean year. Parthenida, later renamed by her husband Pythaida, came from the noble family of Ankei, the founder of the Greek colony on Samos. The birth of a child was supposedly predicted by the Pythia in Delphi, because Pythagoras got his name, which means "the one whom the Pythia announced." Parthenis accompanied her husband on his travels, and Pythagoras was born in Sidon Phoenician (according to Iamblichus) in about 570 BC. NS.

According to ancient authors, Pythagoras met 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, the son of Cratetes from 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 Samos tyrant Polycrates supplied Pythagoras letter of recommendation to Pharaoh Amasis, thanks to which he was admitted to study and initiated into the sacraments forbidden to other foreigners.

Iamblichus writes that Pythagoras left his native island at the age of 18 and, having traveled around the wise men in different regions light, reached Egypt, where he stayed for 22 years, until he was taken to Babylon among his captives by the Persian king Cambyses, who conquered Egypt in 525 BC. NS. Pythagoras stayed in Babylon for another 12 years, communicating with magicians, until he was finally able to return to Samos at the age of 56, where his compatriots recognized him as a wise man.

According to Porphyry, Pythagoras left Samos because of disagreement with the tyrannical rule of Polycrates at the age of 40. Since this information is based on the words of Aristoxenus, a source of the IV century. BC e., they are considered relatively reliable. Polycrates came to power in 535 BC. BC, hence the date of birth of Pythagoras is estimated at 570 BC. e., if we assume that he left for Italy in 530 BC. NS. Iamblichus reports that Pythagoras moved to Italy in the 62nd Olympiad, that is, in 532-529. BC NS. This information is in good agreement with Porphyry, but completely contradicts the legend of Iamblichus himself (or rather, one of his sources) about the Babylonian captivity of Pythagoras. It is not known exactly whether Pythagoras visited Egypt, Babylon or Phenicia, where he gathered according to the legends of Eastern wisdom. Diogenes Laertius quotes Aristoxenus, who said that Pythagoras took his teaching, at least as regards the instructions on the way of life, from the priestess Themistoclea of ​​Delphi, that is, in places not so remote for the Greeks.

Disagreements with the tyrant Polycrates could hardly have caused Pythagoras to leave; rather, he needed the opportunity to preach his ideas and, moreover, put his doctrine into practice, which is difficult to implement in Ionia and mainland Hellas, where many people who were sophisticated in philosophy and politics lived.

Pythagoras settled in the Greek colony of Crotone in southern Italy, where he found many followers. They were attracted not only by the occult philosophy, which he convincingly expounded, but also by the lifestyle he prescribed with elements of healthy asceticism and strict morality. Pythagoras preached the moral ennobling of the ignorant people, which can be achieved where the power belongs to the caste of the wise and knowledgeable people, and to which the people obey in something unconditionally, like children to their parents, and otherwise consciously, submitting to moral authority. The disciples of Pythagoras formed a kind of religious order, or brotherhood of initiates, consisting of a caste of selected like-minded people who literally deify their teacher and founder. This order actually came to power in Crotone, however, due to anti-Pythagorean sentiments at the end of the 6th century. BC NS. Pythagoras had to retire to another Greek colony, Metapont, where he died. Almost 450 years later, during the time of Cicero (1st century BC), the crypt of Pythagoras was shown in Metaponta as one of the attractions.

Pythagoras had a wife named Theano, a son Telavg and a daughter.

According to Iamblichus, Pythagoras headed his secret society for thirty-nine years, then the approximate date of Pythagoras's death can be attributed to 491 BC. e., by the beginning of the era of the Greco-Persian wars. Diogenes, referring to Heraclides (IV century BC), says that Pythagoras died peacefully at the age of 80, or at 90 (according to unnamed other sources). From this follows the date of death 490 BC. NS. (or 480 BC, which is unlikely). Eusebius of Caesarea in his chronography designated 497 BC. NS. as the year of death of Pythagoras.

Defeat of the order of the Pythagoreans

Among the followers and disciples of Pythagoras there were many representatives of the nobility who tried to change the laws in their cities in accordance with the Pythagorean doctrine. This was superimposed on the usual struggle of that era between the oligarchic and democratic parties in ancient Greek society. The discontent of the majority of the population, who did not share the ideals of the philosopher, resulted in bloody riots in Croton and Tarentum.

Many Pythagoreans died, the survivors scattered across Italy and Greece. The German historian F. Schlosser notes 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 customs according to the requirements of an abstract theory, ended in complete failure."

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

Philosophical doctrine

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

In the surviving works, Aristotle never directly refers directly to Pythagoras, but only to the "so-called Pythagoreans". V lost jobs(known from excerpts) Aristotle views Pythagoras as the founder of a semi-religious cult that forbade the eating of beans and had a golden thigh, but did not belong to the sequence of thinkers that preceded Aristotle. Plato treated Pythagoras in the same way as Aristotle, and mentions Pythagoras only once as the founder of a peculiar way of life.

The activity of Pythagoras as a religious innovator of the 6th century. BC NS. consisted in the creation of a secret society, which not only set itself political goals (because of which the Pythagoreans were defeated in Croton), but, mainly, the liberation of the soul through moral and physical purification with the help of secret teaching (mystical teaching about the cycle of transmigration of the soul). According to Pythagoras, the eternal soul migrates from heaven to the mortal body of a person or animal and undergoes a series of migrations until it earns the right to return back to heaven.

The akusmata (sayings) of Pythagoras contain ritual instructions: about the cycle of human lives, behavior, sacrifices, burials, food. Akusmata are formulated laconically and understandably for any person, they also contain the postulates of universal human morality. A more complex philosophy, within which mathematics and other sciences developed, was intended for the "initiates", that is, the chosen people who were worthy to own secret knowledge... The scientific component of the teachings of Pythagoras developed in the 5th century. BC NS. through the efforts of his followers (Archytas from Tarentum, Philolaus from Croton, Hippasus from Metapont), but disappeared in the 4th century. BC e., while the mystical-religious component received its development and rebirth in the form of neo-Pythagoreanism during the Roman Empire.

The merit of the Pythagoreans was the advancement of ideas about the quantitative laws of the development of the world, which contributed to the development of mathematical, physical, astronomical and geographical knowledge. At the heart of things is number, Pythagoras taught, to know the world means to know the numbers that govern it. Studying numbers, they developed numerical relationships and found them in all areas of human activity. Numbers and proportions were studied in order to know and describe the human soul, and having cognized, to control the process of transmigration of souls with the ultimate goal of sending the soul to a certain higher divine state.

Scientific achievements

V modern world Pythagoras is considered a great mathematician and cosmologist of antiquity, but early evidence before the 3rd century. BC NS. do not mention such his merits. As Iamblichus writes about the Pythagoreans: "They also had a wonderful custom to ascribe everything to Pythagoras and not at all take the glory of the discoverers to themselves, except, perhaps, in a few cases."

The ancient authors of our era (Diogenes Laertius; Porphyry; Athenaeus (418f); Plutarch (collection "Moralia", 1094b)) give Pythagoras the authorship of the famous theorem: the square of the hypotenuse of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs. This opinion is based on the information of Apollodorus the calculator (the person is not identified) and on the lines of poetry (the source of the verses is not known):

"On the day when Pythagoras opened his famous drawing,
He raised a glorious sacrifice for him with bulls. "

Modern historians suggest that Pythagoras did not prove the theorem, but could convey to the Greeks this knowledge, known in Babylon 1000 years before Pythagoras (according to Babylonian clay tablets with records mathematical equations). Although there is doubt about the authorship of Pythagoras, there are no weighty arguments to challenge this.

Aristotle touches on the development of ideas about cosmology in the work "Metaphysics", but the contribution of Pythagoras in it is not sounded in any way. According to Aristotle cosmological theories the Pythagoreans were engaged in the middle of the 5th century. BC e., but apparently not Pythagoras himself. Pythagoras is credited with the discovery that the Earth is a sphere, but the same discovery is given by the most authoritative author in this matter, Theophrastus, to Parmenides. And Diogenes Laertius reports that Anaximander of Miletus, from whom Pythagoras studied in his youth, expressed a judgment about the sphericity of the Earth.

At the same time, the scientific merits of the Pythagorean school in mathematics and cosmology are indisputable. The point of view of Aristotle, reflected in his unpreserved treatise "On the Pythagoreans", was conveyed by Iamblichus ("On general mathematical science", 76.19 ff). According to Aristotle, the true Pythagoreans were acusmatics, followers of the religious and mystical doctrine of the transmigration of souls. Akusmatists viewed mathematics as a teaching that came not so much from Pythagoras as from the Pythagorean Hippasus. In turn, the Pythagorean mathematicians, in their own opinion, were inspired by the guiding teachings of Pythagoras for an in-depth study of their science.

Works of Pythagoras

Pythagoras did not write treatises. It is impossible to compose a treatise from oral instructions for the common people, and the secret occult teaching for the elite could not be entrusted to the book.

Diogenes lists the titles of these books ascribed to Pythagoras: "On Education", "On the State" and "On Nature". However, none of the authors in the first 200 years after the death of Pythagoras, including Plato, Aristotle and their successors in the Academy and Lyceum, cites quotations from the works of Pythagoras, or even indicates the existence of such works.

In the III century. BC NS. 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 referred to the 4th century BC without good reason). For the first time, quotations from these verses were quoted by Chrysippus in the 3rd century. BC e., although, perhaps at that time, the compilation had not yet taken shape in a finished form.

Name: Pythagoras

Date of Birth: 570 BC NS.

Age: 80 years

Date of death: 490 BC NS.

Activity: philosopher, mathematician, mystic

Family status: was married

Pythagoras: biography

Biography of Pythagoras of Samos takes readers into the world ancient greek culture... This person can be safely called a legendary person. Pythagoras was a great mathematician, mystic, philosopher, founded a religious and philosophical movement (Pythagoreanism), was a politician who left his works as a legacy to descendants.

Childhood and youth

Determining the exact date of birth of Pythagoras is difficult. Historians have established the approximate period of his birth - 580 BC. Place of Birth - greek island Samos.

The philosopher's mother was called Parthenia (Partenida, Pythias), and his father's name was Mnesarch. According to legend, once the young couple visited the city of Delphi as a honeymoon trip. There, the newlyweds met an oracle, who prophesied to the lovers the imminent appearance of a son. Tradition said that a child would become a difficult person, become famous for 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 Pythias. The baby is named Pythagoras after the priestess of Apollo Pythia. The father of the future mathematician tried in every possible way to fulfill the divine tradition. Happy Mnesarch 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 elder brothers of the Greek philosopher: Eunost and Tyrren.

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

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

A few years later, an 18-year-old guy with a ready-made baggage of knowledge went to Egypt to continue his education with the 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, medicine under Therekides of Syros.

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

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

Here Pythagoras meets the priests, visits the Egyptian temples, closed to foreigners, 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 divine beauty man (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 features 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' 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 had already heard about the famous teachings of the Greek. Pythagoras returns to his homeland, where he begins to introduce his own people to the knowledge gained.

The philosopher quickly gained wide popularity among the inhabitants. Even women who were forbidden to attend mass meetings came to listen to his speeches. At one of these events, Pythagoras met with future wife.

To a person with high level 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 techniques of the Egyptian priests, knew how to purify the souls of listeners, filled their minds with knowledge.

The sage spoke mainly on the streets, in temples, but after that he began to teach everyone in own home... This is a special training system that is notable for its complexity. Probation for pupils was 3-5 years. The listeners were forbidden to speak during the lessons, ask questions, which trained them in modesty and patience.

Maths

A skillful orator and a wise teacher taught people different sciences: medicine, political activities, music, mathematics, etc. From the school of Pythagoras there were subsequently well-known figures in the future, historians, government officials, astronomers, researchers.

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... This is how the formula for solving some of the 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 a right-angled 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 speaks of its fundamental significance for geometry as a whole.

The Pythagorean table is known today as the multiplication table.

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

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

Numerology

The philosopher paid close attention to numbers, trying to know 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 numbers into even and odd numbers. Something important (justice and equality) for life on the planet saw Pythagoras in the square of the number. Nine characterized constancy, number eight - death.

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

Numerological squares of Pythagoras

Thanks to the knowledge of Pythagoras, people today 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 Pythagorean square. The "game" with certain dates (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 have an incredible effect on the world 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. Religiousness and mysticism.

Not all the works of Pythagoras were preserved. The great master and sage practically did not write down anything, but mainly studied oral teaching those who want to learn the subtleties 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, preached acusmatic positions. He forbade his disciples 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 the 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 to the body of an animal or human until it deserves the right to return to God in heaven.

Pythagoras did not impose his philosophy common people who tried only 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 old). The lovers got married, in marriage they had two children: a boy and a girl (names unknown).

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

Death

The Pythagoras school was located in the Greek colony 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 also reached this town.

The school of Pythagoras was located on this bank.

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 murderer was a man whom a mathematician once refused to teach secret occult methods. Being in feelings of hatred, the rejected one set fire to the building of the Academy of Pythagoras, and the philosopher died saving the students.

The second legend says that in a burning house, adherents of the scientist created a bridge from own bodies wanting to save his teacher. And Pythagoras died of a ruptured 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 accidental circumstances during a skirmish in Metapont. At the time of his death, Pythagoras was 80-90 years old.