Social+Studies+-+Pythagorus+Bibliography

__**Pythagoras Bibliography**__  **Pythagoras** (Path – egg- or – us) was born in approximately 569 B.C. in //Samos, Greece//. His father (a wealthy merchant) and mother had been told that they would have a son who would surpass all men in wisdom and virtue by an Oracle in Delphi. Pythagoras did surpass many in wisdom and came up with ideas that we still use today!



As a child Pythagoras was well travelled. His father was a merchant and traveled often and brought Pythagoras with him. Even as a child Pythagoras was said to be very wise by all that met him. Because his father was wealthy he had the very best tutors money could buy.By the time he was eighteen he had outgrown his Island of Samos intellectually and searched for others that could teach him more. He heard of teachers in the //Greek colonies of Miletus named Thales and Anaximander.//

//Thales// (Thay – lees: rhymes with “say bees”) taught Pythagoras mathematics and **astronomy**. Anaximander (An –ax –i-man-der) was responsible for teaching Pythagoras **geometry** and **cosmology**. Once Thales had realized what an intellectually gifted man Pythagoras was, he told Pythagoras to go to Egypt. Thales was instructed in Egypt and felt that Pythagoras could benefit from their direct teaching.  Pythagoras left //Miletus// and was on his way to //Egypt//. On his way to Egypt he first stopped in //Sidon// where he was initiated into the Mysteries (religions) of //Tyre and Byblos// which was //Phoenicia// at the time however is currently in the coastal region of modern day Lebanon or Israel. Pythagoras then continued his voyage into Egypt with some Egyptian Sailors who believed that a god (Pythagoras) was sailing with them. When they arrived in Egypt, Pythagoras tried to get into the Mystery Schools of that country. He was refused several times because he did not want to go through any strict discipline, only the knowledge they could offer him. Pythagoras finally agreed to the 40 day fast that was mandatory in order to join the Mystery School of Egypt. It is after this fast that Pythagoras changed and a need for purity as well as intellectual knowledge followed him through his life. Pythagoras stayed in Egypt for 22 years learning mathematics, astronomy and music. His time in Egypt ended when the //King of Persia// (Cambyses) invaded Egypt. Pythagoras was taken prisoner and was sent to //Babylon// (modern day Iraq).

Pythagoras utilized this time in captivity for growth and studied with the Chaldean Mysteries in Babylon for the next twelve years. Leaving Babylon, he made his way through //Persia into India//, where he continued his education under the //Brachmanes// and imbibed the wisdom of the East at its original source. In India at this time the great spiritual revival of the Buddha was strong. This too gave influence to his schools when he returned to his homeland. When he returned to his homeland he found it in ruins due to the Persian wars. Pythagoras was now 56 years old. Because his country was in ruins and there was no need or want of his knowledge there he moved to the city of //Croton//a in Southern Italy. He was given a school by the Senate and this is where he formed the **Brotherhood of Pythagoras.**

The brotherhood of Pythagoras was comprised of three levels. The lowest level of students were those who lived in their own houses and came to the school during the day. They could own possessions and were not mandated to be vegetarians. Men and women were allowed to join the school. The students of the second level of the school lived at the school and were allowed no personal possessions and had to be vegetarians. These students were taught by Pythagoras himself and had strict rules to follow. Some of these rules included complete secrecy. The highest level of the school were those who learned how to heal with sound, and lived a strict discipline in accordance with the code of the Great Mystery Schools. **Pythagoras escaped to Metapontium and most authors say he died there. Evidence is unclear as to when and where the death of Pythagoras occurred.**    