Pythagoras & His Weird Religious Cult

"Every triangle is a love triangle when you love triangles."

-- Pythagoras (probably)

Had a talk with my mathematician colleague this week where he said that there was more to Pythagoras than people realized. This one came surprisingly on cue.

The only things I really knew about Pythagoras was that he had some theorems (whatever that is) and that he sent me on some quests that required me to sail all over Greece in Assassins Creed Odyssey.

Didn't hear this mentioned, but he was named after the pythia of Delphi (the oracle herself). Just saying his name would summon a powerful reference to the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo.

I had no idea most accounts of his life were written 800 years after he died. That's... not very good I gotta say.

Pythagoras LOVED beans so much he refused to trample a bean field when chased by his murderers. He instead chose to be killed. I think you called him a “hater of beans” because he recommended not to eat them. It’s because he respected the beans so much. Lol

It’s important to remember that the ancient form of “cult” is different then what we think of a cult in present times. It meant more like a subcategory of religion.

I looked up the “Chruch of Pythagorean” because me and my friends made a whole inside joke over it, and this showed up. Didn’t know there was a cult beyond out fake cult we made from a joke (for context, me and my friends who sit together in Geometry made a group chat together, and during a tornado when we thought it was gonna hit our town, we made a joke about “praying to the pythagorean theorem” and a week later here we are. )

Fascinating! It would be great if you cover more of these ancient cults.

Pythagoras needs his own movie

I have read the books of Peter Kingsley about Pythagoras and Pythagoreans (Parmenides & Empedocles). This figure (Pythagoras) is much more way interesting then we thought. And he was not a "bean hater". Beans were sacred - they had connections with Dionysus and Underground World. Touching beans was just like touching some meat.

Very excited for the new chapter on Hellenistic Religion/Philosophy/Mystery schools. Though I’m sure you’ll eventually get to it, Heraclitus and Aristotelian metaphysics will be a great counterpart to Pythagoras’ and Plato’s Esoteric teachings.

I am always fascinated by the cult of Pythagoras. I only start my explore on Mohism recently because Mohism had very little impact on Classical Chinese philosophies after the Warring State Period. The Mohism went underground after the Han Dynasty due to the persecutions from the Central Government. It becomes more like a secret society. There were only legends and stories and completely disappeared from the philosophical discussions until early 20th century when the work of Mozi was rediscovered!! I might do a video in the future about these two traditions in the future.

this video connected so much random stuff I knew here and there together, I did not expect that id come out from a video about Pythagoras, realizing why the male and female gender symbols look the way they do, the connection between math and region in so many big religions, and that music theory came from philosophy.

The Pythagorian School was a mystery school, or an esoteric school, not a cult. There is a big difference.
By definition cults are easy to join, difficult to leave.
Mystery / esoteric schools are not easy to join, and you can leave at anytime.
The knowledge taught in the Pythagorean School is only a parts of a greater esoteric system of esoteric knowledge.
" Man, know thyself " is a well known quote associated with Pythagorism.

I've only known he was a mystic because of some heavy obsession with esotericism and divinity I had as a kid and a teen. There's a Pythagorean numerological system that can read into your personality, your energy levels, spiritual needs and desires, destiny, mental capabilities, and strengths and weaknesses, all using your date of birth. some versions also use your name.

him being a shamanic leader, though, is new to me. thank you for this.

My geometry teacher in high school always used to tell us that the pythagorean theorem would be the mot important thing to remember from the class. Knowing that the universe is made of geometrical shapes and equations is so fascinating and mind bending.

Do you think people were like, “Pssst.....there’s that weird triangle dude.”

I’m thankful for my education. When I leaned about Ancient Greece in elementary school we were taught this about Pythagorus and the Pythagoreans.

My students' ears perk up when I mention that Pythagoras wasn't just an aficionado of triangles, but a cult leader!

Mathematics has so many fascinating roots in ancient history.