Known as a mathematician, Pythagoras was also a philosopher and spiritual leader who saw divine meaning in numbers. Declaring that “all is number,” he left a profound legacy that shaped the course of Western thought. This story traces the mysterious and contemplative journey of his remarkable life.
Early Life
Pythagoras was born around 570 BCE on the island of Samos, in ancient Greece.
His early life is mostly a mystery, but we know he came from a wealthy family and was very curious from a young age.
He loved learning about numbers, nature, and the stars.
Travels and Learning
As a young man, Pythagoras left Samos to travel and study.
He went to Egypt and possibly Babylon, where he learned about mathematics, astronomy, and religious ideas.
These travels greatly influenced his thinking.
He wasn’t just interested in numbers, he believed numbers had spiritual meaning and were connected to everything in the universe.
Founding a School
Around 530 BCE, Pythagoras moved to a city in southern Italy called Croton.
There, he started a school that was part school, part religious community.
His followers were called Pythagoreans, and they lived by strict rules.
They believed in living a simple life, not eating meat, and searching for truth through numbers and harmony.
The Famous Theorem
Pythagoras is most famous today for the Pythagorean Theorem, which says:
In a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
Even though similar ideas existed before him, Pythagoras or his followers were likely the first to prove it.
This theorem is still one of the most important ideas in math and is used in everything from construction to computer graphics.
Beliefs and Ideas
Pythagoras believed that numbers were the key to understanding the universe.
He thought the soul was eternal and could be reborn in different bodies―a belief known as reincarnation.
He also studied music and discovered that musical notes can be explained using simple math ratios.
For example, a string half as long as another produces a note one octave higher.
Controversy and Mystery
Pythagoras and his followers kept many of their teachings secret.
They were admired by some but disliked by others.
Eventually, political problems and conflicts forced the group to break apart.
Some say Pythagoras was killed during these troubles; others say he escaped and died elsewhere. No one knows for sure.
Legacy That Lives On
Even though none of Pythagoras’s own writings survive, his influence is huge.
His ideas shaped not just mathematics, but also science, philosophy, and music.
The Pythagorean Theorem is taught in schools all over the world―even thousands of years later.
“All is number.”
This phrase symbolizes Pythagoras’s philosophy.
He believed that numbers are the true essence of the universe, and that everything in nature can be explained through mathematics.
From music and the motion of stars to the human body, architecture, and even beauty―he saw mathematical laws behind it all.
This single idea greatly influenced later mathematics, science, and philosophy, and can truly be called the core of Pythagorean thought.
