Messages about Pythagoras, the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, creator of the Pythagorean school, are presented in this article.

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Brief biography of Pythagoras

Pythagoras was born around 570 BC in Sidon, Phoenician, into the family of a rich merchant from Tire. Thanks to financial condition his parents, the young man met many sages of that era and absorbed their knowledge like a sponge.

At the age of 18, Pythagoras left his hometown and went to Egypt. There he stayed for 22 years, learning the knowledge of the local priests. When the Persian king conquered Egypt, the scientist was taken to Babylon, where he lived for another 12 years. He returned to his native land at the age of 56, and his compatriots recognized him as a sage.

Pythagoras the donkey of Southern Italy, the Greek colony - Crotone. Here he found many followers and founded his school. His students practically deified their founder and teacher. But the omnipotence of the Pythagoreans led to the outbreak of rebellions and Pythagoras moved to another Greek colony - Metapontus. This is where he died.

He was married to a woman, Theano, from whom a son, Telaugus, and a daughter, whose name is unknown, were born.

Features of the philosophical teachings of Pythagoras

The philosophical teaching of Pythagoras consists of two parts - scientific approach to knowledge of the world and the occult way of life preached by himself. He reflected on the liberation of the soul through physical and moral purification through secret teachings. The philosopher founded the mystical doctrine of the cycle of migration of the soul. The eternal soul, according to the scientist, moves from heaven into the body of an animal or a person. And it moves from body to body until the soul earns the right to return back to heaven.

Pythagoras formulated a number of instructions for his school - about behavior, the cycle of human lives, sacrifices, nutrition and burials.

The Pythagoreans put forward the idea of ​​quantitative patterns in the development of the world. And this, in turn, contributed to the development of physical, mathematical, geographical and astronomical knowledge. Pythagoras taught that the basis of the world and things is number. He developed numerical relationships that found applications in all human activities.

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 so 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 accepted that important facts from the life of Pythagoras were written down 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 very name of Pythagoras is shrouded in legend. According to legend, one day the young parents of Pythagoras went to Delphi on a honeymoon. It was here that the priestess (and according to some sources, the oracle) made a prediction that Mnesarchus would have a son and he would become famous for many centuries for his wisdom and deeds. The prophecy came true, and as gratitude to the priestess who worshiped Apollo of Pythia, the boy is named Pythagoras, which translated means predicted by the Pythia (priestess).
From early childhood, Pythagoras studied a lot, visited the best temples of Greece, and adolescence 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 Pherecydes of Syros, an ancient Greek cosmologist, one of the most important teachers of Pythagoras. It was to him that the future philosopher owes his deep knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and physics. No less important place In the development of Pythagoras’s personality, communication with Hermodamant was involved, who taught him a love of art, poetry and music through the example of the works of Homer.
The next stage of Pythagoras’ biography consists of his life experience, based on travel to foreign lands. Through Phenicia he travels to Egypt, with the ancient priests, their faith, and even, despite his status as a foreigner, visits Egyptian temples.
Later in Egypt, he creates his own school, where he teaches those interested in exact sciences and philosophy. Pythagoras spent a considerable time in this country - about two decades. During this time, he gained many supporters and followers who proudly called themselves Pythagoreans. During this period of his life, Pythagoras introduced the concept of “philosopher” and considered himself one of them. According to the scientist, “sage” and “philosopher” are completely different in their meanings and purpose. A philosopher is someone who “tries to find out” everything, always.
Having behind him many outstanding discoveries made on Egyptian soil, Pythagoras, as a captive 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 this, Pythagoras visits Phenicia, Syria and Hindustan, where he further increases his knowledge of natural sciences, achieves more and more new achievements and discoveries in every area.
In 530 BC. the philosopher finds himself in the southern Italian city of Croton. It was here that Pythagoras gained universal fame, he was quoted and extolled, and the founding of the Pythagorean school reached its apogee. It is also called in another way the philosophical brotherhood or union. Only those who are already well versed in mathematical sciences and have an understanding of astronomy can study here.
At the age of 60, Pythagoras falls in love with his student named Theano. Their marriage produces three children.
Unfortunately, in 500 BC. Mass persecution began against Pythagoras and his school. Scientists believe that the main reason was his refusal to take the son of a wealthy government 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.

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.

Preserved historical evidence about the origin of Pythagoras. His father was Mnesarchus, a native of Tyre, who received citizenship of Samos, and his mother was Parthenides or Pyphaidas, 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 whom he was sent by the Samian tyrant Polycrates. Thanks to his patronage, Pythagoras was taught by 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 Crotona (Southern Italy). There he founded a philosophical school, more like a kind of religious order (the followers of Pythagoras believed that transmigration of the soul and reincarnation were possible; they believed that a person should earn a place in the world of the Gods by good deeds, and until this happens, the soul will continue to return to Earth, “ “inhabiting” 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, whose teacher’s authority was unquestionable, 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 sentiment, the philosopher was forced to leave for the city of Metapontus, where he died in approximately 491 BC.

Personal life

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

Discoveries

It was Pythagoras, as most researchers believe, who discovered the famous theorem that the square of the hypotenuse right triangle equals the sum of the squares of the legs.

Pythagoras's eternal opponent was Heraclitus, who believed that “much knowledge” is not a sign of a real philosophical mind. Aristotle never quoted Pythagoras in his works, but Plato considered Pythagoras the greatest philosopher of Greece, bought the works of the Pythagoreans and often quoted their opinions in his works.

Other biography options

• It is interesting that the birth of Pythagoras was predicted by the Delphic Pythia (hence the name, because “Pythagoras” translated from Greek means “predicted by Pythia”). The boy's father was warned that his son would be born unusually gifted and would bring a lot of benefit to people.
• Many biographers describe the life of Pythagoras differently. There are certain discrepancies in the works of Heraclides, Ephsebius of Caesarea, Diogenes, and Porphyry. According to the latter’s works, 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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What contribution of Pythagoras to science, philosophy and mathematics you will learn from this article.

What are the contributions of Pythagoras to mathematics?

His contribution to geometry cannot be underestimated, making truly great discoveries. Pythagoras created his own school and, together with his students, he worked hard to give scientific nature for geometry. In addition to the fact that he created the famous Pythagorean theorem (it is very important for modern science and is used at every step in solving important geometric problems) the scientist made many discoveries. Among them:

• Sum theorem internal corners triangle
• The problem of dividing a plane into regular polygons - equilateral squares, triangles and hexagons
• Invented geometric methods for solving quadratic equations
• Created rules for solving problems

What is Pythagoras' contribution to science?

In addition to mathematical achievements, Pythagoras made significant contributions to other sciences. In astronomy and geography, he was among the first scientists who expressed the hypothesis that our planet is round. He believed that we are not the only creatures inhabiting the universe.

Pythagoras' discoveries in the field of music are also significant. He determined that the sound directly depends on the length of the string or flute. Even popular numerology today owes its existence to Pythagoras - he was the first to combine predictions for the future with numbers.

What is Pythagoras' contribution to philosophy?

Pythagoras' contribution to philosophy was that he first introduced the term "philosophy" into scientific use. He founded his school in Italy in 532 BC. At the same time, it was both a religious and monastic order, and political structure. The school had its own charter and fairly strict rules. It is interesting that all students of the school had to give up meat food and personal property, and not tell others about the teachings of their mentor.

The man known to us as a great mathematician was also a philosopher, mystic, ascetic and the founder of a religious and philosophical school named after him. Pythagorean ideas had a significant influence on Plato, and through him on all of Western philosophy.

Herodotus claimed that Pythagoras was born in 570 BC on Samos - greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea. His father was a jeweler according to some sources, and a merchant according to others. According to legend, his pregnant mother received a prediction from the Delphic Pythia that she would give birth to a beautiful, wise and useful child for humanity. She named her son after the fortune teller.

Diogenes Laertius reported that Pythagoras traveled a lot and visited not only Egypt, Arabia, Phenicia, Judea, Babylon, but even India. He collected knowledge about the nature of things and about secret mystical cults and gods. Plutarch claimed that during his visit to Egypt, Pythagoras studied with the priest of the god Anubis. Xenophanes wrote that he believed in the transmigration of souls. There is a well-known story when Pythagoras interceded on behalf of a dog that was being beaten, declaring that he recognized the voice of his dead friend in its cries. He shocked his listeners by claiming that he had taken part in the Trojan War.

Pythagoras made many discoveries. In addition to the famous theorem and number theory, he excelled in music - he proved the connection between the pitch of a sound and the length of a string. In astronomy, he created the theory of “music of the spheres” and recognized the sphericity of the Earth. The tenets of Pythagorean medicine were studied by Hippocrates. But along with scientific research, Pythagoras practiced fortune telling and prophecy. He tied science and mysticism into a bizarre tangle, creating, in essence, a new religious movement.

Esoteric teachings, secret religious doctrines and customs, which undoubtedly occupied a prominent place in the Pythagorean system, are associated with the cult of Apollo. Moderation in everything was the main platform of the school. His students formed something like a club, which included a philosophical school, a religious fraternity, and also a political association.

The inhabitants of Croton, where Pythagoras settled after his travels, idolized him. They followed him unconditionally. Ancient authors told fantastic stories about how, after the eloquent speeches of the philosopher, the Greeks became real ascetics.

Few people know that Pythagoras was the ideologist of the destruction of Sybaris, a city of sybarites full of luxury. Preaching his teachings, he called on the Crotonians to renounce excesses in defiance of the pampered sybarites. Conflicts between the two policies of Magna Graecia led to war and the Crotonians destroyed Sybaris. The disciples of Pythagoras claimed that he lamented this, but historians... historians do not believe them.

However, after the destruction of Sybaris, unrest began in Croton. The Pythagoreans imposed their order, but the inhabitants no longer wanted deprivation and abstinence. And so, on one tragic day for the Pythagoreans, the Crotonians set fire to their temple. Many adherents died, the survivors fled. Later, followers of the teaching organized something like a sect, but over time the Pythagorean school ceased to exist.

As for the fate of Pythagoras himself, opinions differ. Some say that he died in the temple with his disciples, others that he fled by ship to Metapontum, and there he starved to death.

Remnants of his teaching have reached our days. Scientists recognize Pythagoras as a great mathematician and astronomer, thanks to whom the need for proof was introduced into mathematics, which gave it the status of a special discipline. Philosophers put Pythagoras on a par with Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius and Lao Tzu. Mystics revere him as its great initiate, clairvoyant and prophet.