Pythagoreans

 

Born: 582? - 500? BC in Samos, Ionia

Died: about 500 BC in Metapontum, Lucania

 

Pythagoras was a Greek religious leader and a philosopher who made developments in astronomy, mathematics, and music theories. He moved to Croton (a city in southern Italy) and started a religious and philosophical school there. He had many followers called the Pythagoreans. The works of Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans can not be separated because the school in which they worked in was restricted to secrecy.

                                 http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/4116/History/pythagor.htm?tqskip=1

 

 

 

   Pay honor first to the Immortal Gods,

     As order hath established Their Choirs:

   Reverence the Oath. The Heroes great and good

   Revere thou next, and earth's good geniuses,

   Paying to them such honours as are due.

   Honour thy parents and thy nearest kin;

   Of others make the virtuous thy friend:

   Yield to his gentle words, his timely acts;

   Nor for a petty fault take back thy love.

   Bear what thou canst: pow'r cometh at man's need.

   Know this for truth, and learn to conquer these:

   Thy belly first; sloth, luxury, and rage.

   Do nothing base with others or alone,

   And, above all things, thine own self respect.

   Next practice justice in thy word and deed

   And learn to act unreasonably in naught;

   But know that all must die.  Wealth comes and goes.

   Of ills the Goddess Fortune gives to man

   Bear meekly thou thy lot, nor grieve at it;

   But cure it as thou canst.  Remember this:

   Fate gives the least of evil to the good.

 

                                                                             PY1-01

 

 

 
When first thou dost from soothing sleep arise,
Hasten about thy day's intended work;
Nor suffer sleep to fall on thy soft lids
Till thrice thou hast each act of the day recalled:
How have I sinned? What done? What duty missed?
Go through them first to last; and if they seem
Evil, reproach thyself; if good, rejoice.
Toil at and practise this: this must thou love;
This to the Path of Heavenly Virtue leads.


                                                                     PY1-02

 

 

  PY1 - The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans

        Translation & Commentary

        The Shrine of Wisdom

        Fintry, Brook, Nr. Goldaming, Surrey

        - 01  p.    9

        - 02  p.  10