Pythagoras

Pythagoras 4/2/12

Pythagoras can often be described as the first pure mathematician. He is an extremely important figure in the development of mathematics but we are still unsure about his mathematical achievements. Pythagoras is a mysterious figure today because we have no writings or accounts of his life. [ (O'Connor) ]

Pythagoras's father name was Mnesarchus while his mother was Pythais and she was a native of Samos. Mnesarchus was a merchant who came from Tyre. [ (Cane) ] There are no accounts of Pythagoras’s childhood. No one knows what he looked like as a child. The only description that scholars are sure of is the birthmark on his thigh. The number of brothers Pythagoras had is also up for debate. [ (The Story of Mathematics ) ]

There were three philosophers who were to influence Pythagoras. One of the most important was Pherekydes who many describe as the teacher of Pythagoras. The other two philosophers who were to influence Pythagoras, and to introduce him to mathematical ideas, were Thales and his pupil Anaximander who both lived on Miletus. [ (O'Connor) ] Thales contributed to Pythagoras's interest in mathematics and astronomy, and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more of these subjects. Anaximander certainly was interested in geometry and cosmology and many of his ideas would influence Pythagoras's own views. [ (O'Connor) ]

In about 535 BC Pythagoras went to Egypt. This happened after the tyrant Polycrates seized control of the city of Samos. Pythagoras's spent his time in Egypt visiting many of the temples taking part in many discussions with the priests. Pythagoras was refused admission to all the temples except the one at Diospolis where he was accepted into the priesthood after completing the rites necessary for admission. [ (O'Connor) ] Sources say that it Pythagoras learned his ways of secrecy and beliefs from this temple in Italy later on.

In 525 BC Cambyses II, the king of Persia, invaded Egypt. After Cambyses had won the...