Pythagoras

570–480 BC

PYTHAGORAS AND THE BEAUTIFUL THEANO

Pythagoras is best known today for his well known pythagorean theorem, which defines the mathamatical relationship between the sides of a right triangle. It was used in very early times for surveying property, and ascertaining true right angles when marking off areas, or buildings sites. Pythagoras considered himself a philospher however, but in that age, philosophy, science, and mathematics were closely related disciplines.

Pythagoras was born in Samos, but soon fled to Croton, a Greek colony in Italy, to evade the tyrant Polycrates. There he started a philosophical school that was governed by very strict rules of conduct, and sought to promote virtue in his followers. The precise nature of his teachings is still disputed, but he is thought to have believed in reincarnation, and was a mystic, a political reformer, and a vegetarian. His followers studied music, astronomy, mathematics, science, and literature.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Before the Time of Christ  in	Stories of the Great Scientists  by  Charles R. Gibson
Greek Colonies: The Tyrants  in	The Story of the Greek People  by  Eva March Tappan

Image Links
Pythagoras and the Beautiful Theano  in Greatest Nations - Greece	Pythagoras and his Friend  in Stories of the Ancient Greeks	School of Pythagoras  in The Story of the Greek People

Contemporary	Short Biography
Democedes	Greek physician, valuable slave of Darius. Schemed and plotted to return to Greece.
Polycrates	Prosperous king of Samos who was overthrown by Oretes, his enemy from Asia Minor.