A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

618 PYTHAGORAS. PYTHAGORAS.
with the Hyperborean Apollo. (Porph. 1. c. 20; members of the club of 300 is not so probable.
Iambl. 1. c. 31, 140; Aelian, V. H. ii. 26; Diog. Krische (I. c. p. 45) considers that these female
Laert. viii. 36.) And without viewing him as an Pythagoreans were only the wives and relations of
impostor, we may easily believe that he himself to members of the brotherhood, who were instructed
some extent shared the same views. He is said to in some of the Pythagorean doctrines. These would
have pretended to divination and prophecy. (Cic. doubtless be mainly those connected with the relide Divin. i. 3, 46; Porph. 1. c. 29.) " In his promi- gious part of his system. (Comp. Menage, Hist.
nent vocation, analogous to that of Epimenides, de Mul. Philos.)
Orpheus, or Melampus, he appears as the revealer With respect to the internal arrangements and
of a mode of life calculated to raise his disciples discipline of this brotherhood only a few leading
above the level of mankind, and to recommend features seem to rest upon a basis of evidence and
them to the favour of the gods." (Grote, vol. iv. probability sufficient to warrant our bestowing any
p. 529.) attention upon them. All accounts agree that what
No certainty can be arrived at as to the length was done and taught among the members was kept
of time spent by Pythagoras in Egypt or the East, a profound secret towards all without its pale. But
or as to his residence and efforts in Samos or other we are also told that there were gradations among
Grecian cities, before his removal to Italy. Ritter the members themselves. It was an old Pythagois inclined to believe from the expressions of He- rean maxim, that every thing was not to be told to
rodotus that the secret cultus or orgies of Pytha- every body (Diog. Laert. viii. 15; Arist. ap. amnb.
goras had gained some footing in Greece or Ionia, 31, ev'ros r07 Vrau irorfS' o's). The division of
even before Crotona became the focus of his influ- classes is usually described as one into EiaorepUloc
ence (Gesch. der Phil. vol. i. p. 364, Gesch. der and woTrEptKOl, though these terms themselves
Pyth. Phil. p. 31). In the visits to various places in are probably of later origin. Other names given
Greece-Delos, Sparta, Phlius, Crete, &c. which to corresponding divisions are, IvOa'ydpetoL and
are ascribed to him, he appears commonly either in IIuOayoporrac (Iambl. 80). Other accounts, again,
his religious or priestly character, or else as a law- speak of a division into three classes, IvufOayopapoi,
giver (Iambl.. c. 25; Porph. I. c. 17; Diog. rIvuaye'petot, and rIvoayops'rTai, according to the
Laert. viii. 3, 13; Cic.Tusc. Qu. v. 3). degree of intimacy which they enjoyed with PyIt is in the highest degree probable that the thagoras; the first class being those who held the
reason why Pythagoras removed to Crotona is to closest communion with him; or into oeEa-Tru1oft,
be found in the unfavourable condition of his 7roaXLrKoi, and pual7/iaT'rKoi, according as the subnative country, while under the tyranny of Poly- ject of their studies related mainly to religion, to
crates, for the realisation of his schemes. Later politics, or to mathematical and physical science
admirers were content to believe that, from the high (Phot. Cod. 249). Other authorities speak of
estimation in which he was held by his fellow- daovouasa'TKco and juas671,uarscoi (Iambl. 1. c.), or
citizens, he was so overburdened with public duties, Acustici, Mathematici, and Physici (Gell. N. A.
as to have no time to bestow upon philosophy, and i. 9). Most of these divisions, however, presupso withdrew from Samos (Iambl. 28; Porph. 9). pose a more marked separation between the difThe reason why he selected Crotona as the sphere ferent branches of human knowledge, or between
of his operations, it is impossible to ascertain from philosophical training and political activity, than
any existing evidence. All that is adduced on existed at that time. In the admission of candithis head by K. 0. Muller (Dorians, iii. 9. ~ 17, dates Pythagoras is said to have placed great revol. ii. p. 189, &c.) is mere conjecture, and is of the liance oni his physiognomical discernment (Gell.
most unsatisfactory kind. Grote (vol. iv. p. 538) 1. c.). If admitted, they had to pass through a
supposes that the celebrity of Crotona for the cul- period of probation, in which their powers of maintivation of the art of medicine may possibly have taining silence (iXeIuvOia) were especially tested,
had some influence with him. That on his arrival as well as their general temper, disposition, and
there he speedily attained extensive influence, and mental capacity (Ariston. ap. Iambl. 94). That
gained over great numbers to enter into his views, they had to maintain silence for five years, and
is all that can safely be affirmed in the midst of during the whole of that period were never allowed
the marvellous stories told by later biographers of to behold the face of Pythagoras, while they were
the effects of his eloquent discourses in leading the from time to time exposed to various severe ordeals
Crotoniates to abandon their luxurious and cor- (Iambl. 68), are doubtless the exaggerations of a
rupting manner of life and devote themselves to later age. There is more probability in the statethat purer system which he came to introduce. ment (Taurus, ap. Gell. i. 9) that the period of
(Porph. 18; Iambl. 37, &c.) His adherents were noviciate varied according to the aptitude which
chiefly of the noble and wealthy classes. Three the candidates manifested for the Pythagorean dishundred of these were formed into a select brother- cipline. As regards the nature of the esoteric inhood or club, bound by a sort of vow to Pythagoras struction to which only the most approved members
and each other, for the purpose of cultivating the of the fraternity were admitted, some (e. g. Meiners,
religious and ascetic observances enjoined by their Gesch. der Wissenschaften) have supposed that it
master, and of studying his religious and philoso- had reference to the political views of Pythagoras.
phical theories. The statement that they threw all Ritter (I. c. p. 47, &c.), with greater probability,
their property into a common stock has not suffi- holds that it had reference mainly to the orgies,
cient evidence to support it, and was perhaps in or secret religious doctrines and usages, which unthe first instance only an inference from certain doubtedly formed a prominent feature in the PyPythagorean maxims and practices (comp. Cic. de thagorean system, and were peculiarly connected
Leg. i. 12, de Off. i. 7; Diog. Laert. viii. 10; with the worship of Apollo (Aelian, V. H. ii. 26;
Krische, 1. c. p. 27, &c.; Ritter, 1. c. p. 39). That Diog. Laert. viii. 13; Iambl. 8. 91, 141; comp.
there were several women among the adherents of Krische, 1. c. p. 37; Brandis, 1. c. p. 432; Miiller,
Pythagoras is pretty certain. That any were Dorians, iii. 9. ~ 17). The admission of women to