Famous Alchemist: Pythagoras
“Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.” - Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos (570-495 B.C.)
Pythagoras is considered to be the father of philosophy and was the first to consider himself a philosopher, coining the word. It is said that Pythagoras gained his knowledge from traveling the known world and studying under the masters of each region. He studied the mysteries of Isis and was initiated into their mystery school by the priests of Thebes, becoming one of few outsiders allowed to take part in their worship. He learned arithmetic from the Phoenicians, studied with the magi of Persia, and learn astronomy from the Chaldeans. Pythagoras even traveled to Israel, where he studied the mysteries of Moses. The Essenes studied Pythagorean symbols and went on to produce spiritual teachers such as Elijah and Jesus.
Pythagoras went on to start his own mystery school in Crotona, a small colony in southern Italy. There he devoted his time, teaching his disciples the occult secrets of mathamatics, music, and astronomy, which he considered the cornerstone of all arts and sciences.
His mystery school was divided into two parts - the exoterici or outer degrees and the esoterici or inner degrees. There were three degrees of initiation. The first took three years and was dedicated to the study of mathematics. The second was the Theoreticus, which consisted of five years of silence and the study of the superficial applications of the sciences. The third was the Electus, where the initiate was passed forward into the light of the fullest illumination and educated in the secret wisdom. The Freemasons of today still study the teachings of Pythagoras and use his doctrines of secrecy and silence in their rites of initiation.
Pythagoras believed in one God of everything whom he called the Monad, which comes from the Greek word “monas,” meaning singularity. He believed Monad was the source of all wisdom, the supreme mind that caused all things, gave intellect to all things, and whose power lived in all things. To Pythagoras, the study of geometry, music, and astronomy was the key to understanding God and Nature. He also believed that all plants, animals, and heavenly bodies had souls, minds, and spirits the same as humans. Pythagoras broke down the world into three parts; the supreme world where God resided; the superior world of the immortals, whose shadows were cast on the materal world; and the inferior world, the realm of the material universe. This belief is what gave birth to his Pythagorean Theorem, of which he is most famous for today. He also believed eating meat clouded one’s reason and spent many days at a time meditating and praying.
Although the cause of his death is uncertain, we do know that his commune was attacked and destroyed by rejects of his brotherhood, who raised the community of Crotona against him and his followers. In the attack most of his disciples were murdered and his buildings were destroyed. Whether Pythagoras lost his life that day or escaped to be killed by his followers, it is unknown and still a source of legend and debate to this day.
What is known are Pythagoras gifts to mankind. He outlined basic rules of geometry that we still use today, he transformed musical notes into mathematical equations, and he was the source of knowledge for creating many of the beautiful structures of the ancient world we cherish. Pythagoras showed us that science and spiritualty can be reconciled when the power of wisdom and knowledge are used in harmony with God and Nature.
