He was one of the most famous people of his time, and his name is found today in almost every textbook of geometry. Who is he - the great mystic Pythagoras?
It is difficult to find a student who does not know Pythagoras and his famous theorem. However, it would be primitive to believe that an outstanding scientist found only an accurate approach to solving mathematical problems. Pythagoras was the very figure of the past who made a kind of revolution in many areas of human life.
Long prediction
Given that we are talking about ancient times, it is difficult to name the exact date of birth of Pythagoras. Researchers find it difficult even to specify the year - approximately 586-569. BC. It is not known whether his parents came from a noble family, but his father devoted his life to jewelry, and therefore it can be assumed that the family did not need funds. In addition, one of the legends even singles out the parents of Pythagoras. After they got married, they met an oracle that predicted a great future for the son of this couple. He noted that this child will become a great thinker in the future. When a child was born to the mother of the future genius, it was decided to name it in honor of the Pythia, one of the servants of Apollo. Parents brought gifts to the gods so that they would make the prophecy come true, while they themselves tried to give the best education to the boy.
Already at an early age, the boy showed excellent abilities in the study of various sciences. He was greatly influenced by his mentor Hermodamantes, who taught the young Pythagoras the basics of music and literary creativity. It was with Hermodamantus that Pythagoras got acquainted with the legendary creations of Homer, which he learned by heart.
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Search for knowledge
When Pythagoras gets older, he decides to go to other countries to comprehend new sciences. At that time, Egypt was a center for the development of a wide variety of arts and knowledge. Only Pythagoras could not be in this region. Then, due to political contradictions, the entry of the Greeks into Egypt was prohibited. Then the young man does not despair and travels through the vast Greek lands, where he meets outstanding contemporaries who become his teachers.
In Mileet, he met the famous Thales, who helped Pythagoras to discover in himself the vocation to be not only a philosopher, but also a mathematician. Gradually accumulating knowledge from various areas of human life, Pythagoras reaches extraordinary heights. He becomes a great sage and enlightener, exactly repeating the predicted path.
However, the happy period is destroyed by the Persian War. In the course of a long confrontation, the Greeks are forced to retreat, and therefore certain territories are passed to the enemy. Pythagoras is captured by the Babylonians. For quite a long time he lives in a foreign land, however, in Babylon he manages to acquire new knowledge, although he is there as a prisoner.
Science for everyone
There are many legends about the stay of Pythagoras on the Babylonian territory, and this is no accident. The scientist's contemporaries said that his release was very strange. After many years in captivity, he received freedom from the ruler. Of course, it is possible that the wise king was delighted with the talents of the sage, but at that time it was believed that it was not without mysticism. This version was also supported by the stories that Pythagoras had long communicated with the Babylonian magicians, who shared some of their secrets with him. Whether it really was so is unknown. However, it is an indisputable fact that upon his return to his homeland, Pythagoras began to pay attention to finding solutions to mystical secrets and phenomena.
Pythagoras was not just a famous scientist - he strove to share his knowledge with everyone whose mind was open to everything new. It is known that he often spoke at meetings in the open air, after which he invited everyone who wanted to learn to his home. Very often representatives of the lower class became the students of Pythagoras, but for the scientist there were no social differences between people. Because of this, ordinary people idolized him, considering him a messenger of higher powers. The very same training system of Pythagoras was much more complicated than his predecessors. After a probationary period, which could last up to 5 years, the scientist selected the most capable as his students, who became the followers of his ideas.
Both mystic and mathematician
You can really talk about the mathematical achievements of Pythagoras forever. In addition to his theorem, which made it possible to look differently at geometry, he created the "Pythagoras Table", which indicates the multiplication of certain numbers and their product. Thanks to these data, the proportion of the ratio of the length of the string of a musical instrument to the frequency of vibration when playing on it was developed. This greatly facilitated the manufacture of stringed instruments.
In addition, Pythagoras was a supporter of his own doctrine, which found many followers. He believed that a person can free the soul only through purification and morality. Also, Pythagoras never consumed food of animal origin, but he considered it sacrilege to eat the heart of an animal. He developed a whole numerological system, where each number had its own symbolic meaning. It is believed that it was this knowledge that he received in Babylon.
Alas, it was the teachings of Pythagoras that caused his death. According to one of the legends, one of the disciples was angry with him that he could not get ideas about the great mystical mysteries that the scientist possessed. This man became a criminal that made a fire in the Academy of Pythagoras, and the teacher himself died in this building, saving his students from the fire.
Despite the tragic ending of life, the merits of Pythagoras cannot be overestimated. Modern architecture, mathematics, philosophy and even numerology develop according to its principles and foundations. The prophecy about him came true and even more - Pythagoras remained immortal in the memory of mankind.