Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources by James Wasserman, Thomas Stanley, Henry L. Drake, J Daniel Gunther Read Free Book Online
of the city Crotona, Apollo told the leader of the colony that he would give him a progeny if he conducted his colony to Italy. Whence they ought to reflect that Apollo has a particular providence for the generation—and over youth—even of all the gods. Wherefore they ought to study to be worthy of their love, and employ themselves in hearing, that they may be able to speak. Moreover, if they would live to be old themselves, they should obey their elders and not contradict them; for by that means they will become esteemed worthy, and not to be injured by those that are younger then themselves.
CHAPTER 15
H IS O RATION TO THE W OMEN
I t is said, that he discoursed to the women concerning sacrifices. 151
First, that as when another man were to pray for them, they would have him to be honest and good, because the gods hearken to such men; in like manner ought they, above all things, so to behave themselves as that they may indeed have the gods attentive to their prayers.
Next, that they must present the gods with such things as they themselves make with their own hands. And without the help of servants, offer them at the altar; as cakes, wax and incense. But that they present not the deity with slaughter and death; nor that they offer so much at one time, as if they were never to come thither again.
As concerning their conversation towards their husbands, he commanded them to consider that fathers did yield to their daughters, that their husbands should be more beloved by them than their parents. Wherefore it is fit that either they contradict their husbands in nothing, or then think they have the victory when they are overruled by them.
Moreover he spared that well-known apothegm concerning coition: that for her who rises from her own husband, it is lawful to go to the temples the same day; but for her who rises from him that is not her husband, never.
He exhorted them likewise, throughout their whole lives to speak well of others, and to take care that others speak well of them; and that they destroy not that good report which is given. He cautioned them not to confute those mythographers, who (seeing the justice of women—that they lend their garments without witness when any has need of them, and that they made no bargains and engagements) feigned three women who made use of one eye amongst them because of their readiness to communicate. Which if applied to men, as if when one had received anything he should restore presently or communicate to his neighbor, everyone would say there is no such thing, it being contrary to their nature.
Further, he who is said to be the wisest of all persons, who disposed the language of men and invented all names—whether he were a god, or a daemon, or some divine man—upon consideration, because the female sex is most addicted to piety, made every degree of age synonymous with some god. He called the unmarried woman Core; she who is given to man Nympha; she who has children Mother; she who has children's children, in the Doric dialect, Maija; to which respect of their devotion it agrees that the oracles at Dodona and Delphi are delivered by women. 152
Having thus commended their devotion, he converted his discourse to speak of decency of habit: that none should presume to wear any sumptuous cloths, but offer them all at Juno's temple (which amounted to) many millions of garments.
He is reported also to have said thus: that throughout the country of the Crotonians, the virtue of a man towards his wife was much celebrated. Ulysses refused Immortality at Calypso's hands rather than to forsake Penelope. Let it be the part of the wives to express their virtuous loyalty towards their husbands, that this praise may be reciprocal. 153
CHAPTER 19
H IS D EATH
T he time of the death of Pythagoras has been formerly touched. It was, according to Eusebius, in the fourth year of the seventieth Olympiad [ca. 493 B.C. ], after he had lived, as Justin says, at Crotona for twenty years.
CHAPTER 15
H IS O RATION TO THE W OMEN
I t is said, that he discoursed to the women concerning sacrifices. 151
First, that as when another man were to pray for them, they would have him to be honest and good, because the gods hearken to such men; in like manner ought they, above all things, so to behave themselves as that they may indeed have the gods attentive to their prayers.
Next, that they must present the gods with such things as they themselves make with their own hands. And without the help of servants, offer them at the altar; as cakes, wax and incense. But that they present not the deity with slaughter and death; nor that they offer so much at one time, as if they were never to come thither again.
As concerning their conversation towards their husbands, he commanded them to consider that fathers did yield to their daughters, that their husbands should be more beloved by them than their parents. Wherefore it is fit that either they contradict their husbands in nothing, or then think they have the victory when they are overruled by them.
Moreover he spared that well-known apothegm concerning coition: that for her who rises from her own husband, it is lawful to go to the temples the same day; but for her who rises from him that is not her husband, never.
He exhorted them likewise, throughout their whole lives to speak well of others, and to take care that others speak well of them; and that they destroy not that good report which is given. He cautioned them not to confute those mythographers, who (seeing the justice of women—that they lend their garments without witness when any has need of them, and that they made no bargains and engagements) feigned three women who made use of one eye amongst them because of their readiness to communicate. Which if applied to men, as if when one had received anything he should restore presently or communicate to his neighbor, everyone would say there is no such thing, it being contrary to their nature.
Further, he who is said to be the wisest of all persons, who disposed the language of men and invented all names—whether he were a god, or a daemon, or some divine man—upon consideration, because the female sex is most addicted to piety, made every degree of age synonymous with some god. He called the unmarried woman Core; she who is given to man Nympha; she who has children Mother; she who has children's children, in the Doric dialect, Maija; to which respect of their devotion it agrees that the oracles at Dodona and Delphi are delivered by women. 152
Having thus commended their devotion, he converted his discourse to speak of decency of habit: that none should presume to wear any sumptuous cloths, but offer them all at Juno's temple (which amounted to) many millions of garments.
He is reported also to have said thus: that throughout the country of the Crotonians, the virtue of a man towards his wife was much celebrated. Ulysses refused Immortality at Calypso's hands rather than to forsake Penelope. Let it be the part of the wives to express their virtuous loyalty towards their husbands, that this praise may be reciprocal. 153
CHAPTER 19
H IS D EATH
T he time of the death of Pythagoras has been formerly touched. It was, according to Eusebius, in the fourth year of the seventieth Olympiad [ca. 493 B.C. ], after he had lived, as Justin says, at Crotona for twenty years.
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