Pythagoras: Greek philosopher and mathematician (c. 570 – c. 495 BC)

475 BC).

Pythagoras
Bust of Pythagoras of Samos in the Capitoline Museums, Rome
Born	c. 570 BC Samos
Died	c. 495 BC (aged around 75) either Croton or Metapontum
Era	Pre-Socratic philosophy
Region	Western philosophy
School	Pythagoreanism
Main interests	Ethics Mathematics Metaphysics Music theory Mysticism Politics Religion
Notable ideas	Communalism Metempsychosis Musica universalis Attributed ideas: Five climatic zones Five regular solids Proportions Pythagorean theorem Pythagorean tuning Sphericity of the Earth Vegetarianism

He is best known for the proof of the important Pythagorean theorem, which is about right angle triangles. He started a group of followers called the Pythagoreans, who lived like monks.

Pythagoras was born in Samos, a little island off the western coast of Asia Minor. His father was Mnesarchus, a merchant from Tyre. Pythagoras traveled to many places, including Miletus, Egypt, Babylon, and southern Italy. Southern Italy was where he founded the Pythagorean school, in the town of Croton.

Pythagoras had a great impact on mathematics and theory of music. His theories are still used in mathematics today. Since he worked very closely with his group, the Pythagoreans, it is sometimes hard to tell his works from those of his followers.

Religion was important to the Pythagoreans. They believed the soul is immortal and goes through a cycle of rebirths until it becomes pure.

Pythagoras' most important beliefs were that:

1. At its deepest level, reality is mathematical in nature,
2. Philosophy can be used for spiritual purification,
3. The soul can rise to union with the divine,
4. Certain symbols have a mystical significance, and
5. All brothers and sisters of the order should observe strict loyalty and secrecy.

 

Pythagoras is most famous for his theorem about right triangles. He said that the length of the longest side of the right angled triangle (called the hypotenuse) squared would equal the sum of the other two sides squared: a² + b² = c². There are many different proofs for this Pythagorean theorem.

• Joost-Gaugier, Christiane L. (2006), Measuring Heaven: Pythagoras and his Influence on Thought and Art in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, ISBN 978-0-8014-7409-5