You're Dead to Me Pythagoras
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Jan 26, 2024 Professor Edith Hall and comedian Desiree Burch join Greg Jenner to explore the life and myths surrounding ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras. They discuss his eccentricities, travels, philosophical beliefs, and controversial teachings. The episode also delves into Pythagoras' contributions to music theory and his impact on cultural consciousness. Controversies surrounding him as a cult leader are also explored. Plus, a quick-fire quiz to test your knowledge!
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Pythagoras Born Into A Cosmopolitan Intellectual Melting Pot
- Pythagoras likely came from Samos around 570 BCE and emerged within the vibrant Ionian intellectual milieu that mixed Greek, Egyptian and Near Eastern ideas.
- Edith Hall emphasizes he was part of a cosmopolitan eastern Mediterranean exchange rather than a lone Greek genius, which shaped his hybrid teachings.
Most Stories About Pythagoras Were Shaped By Later Comedians
- Our biographies of Pythagoras are later, often sensational, and mix philosophy with comic theatre jokes generated soon after his life.
- Ancient comic plays and rival writers created many of the bizarre anecdotes that later became treated as fact.
Myth That Pythagoras Was Son Of Apollo
- Biographers claimed Pythagoras had divine parentage and was connected to Apollo and the Pythian oracle.
- Stories grew that parents consulted the oracle and that his name and cult linked him to sun-worship and exotic influences.