Pythagoras

Date of Birth: c. 570 BCE

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: c. 495 BCE

Biography

Pythagoras of Samos was an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician best known for formulating the Pythagorean theorem, a fundamental principle in geometry. Born around 570 BCE on the island of Samos off the coast of modern-day Turkey, Pythagoras later migrated to Croton (in modern-day Italy) where he founded a religious movement known as Pythagoreanism. His followers, the Pythagoreans, adhered to a strict lifestyle that combined religious rites with philosophical and mathematical studies. Pythagoras’ teachings influenced not only mathematics but also music, astronomy, and philosophy. His life is shrouded in mystery and legend, with many anecdotes and achievements attributed to him through his disciples.

5 Interesting Facts about Pythagoras

1. Pythagoras founded a religious and philosophical school where members followed strict rules, including a vegetarian diet.

2. He is credited with the discovery of the relationship between the length of strings on musical instruments and the harmony of the sounds they produce.

3. The Pythagorean theorem, which relates to the sides of a right-angled triangle, is named after him, although its knowledge predates him.

4. Pythagoras believed in the transmigration of souls, a concept that holds that souls are reborn into new bodies.

5. His followers, the Pythagoreans, were among the first to study the properties of numbers and their mystical significance.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Pythagoras

1. “Numbers rule the universe.”

2. “There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.”

3. “Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.”

4. “The most momentous thing in human life is the art of winning the soul to good or evil.”

5. “As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As an ancient philosopher and mathematician, the concept of net worth does not apply to Pythagoras in the modern sense. His wealth was in his knowledge and the legacy he left behind.

Children

Historical records do not provide clear information about Pythagoras’ children. Some sources suggest he may have had a daughter named Damo, who reportedly inherited his writings.