Vat.lat.5953

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original signature: iiij.

He was carried across by certain Egyptian ships, most opportunely sent by his teacher referring to Thales's influence or perhaps a divine providence guided by his advice, which had put in at the shores near Mount Carmel original: "charmilon"; referring to Mount Carmel in modern-day Israel, a site long associated with sanctity in Phoenicia. Pythagoras remained there for some time, deeply occupied with sacred rites, and the sailors willingly received him onto their vessel.

the sailors were better disposed toward him. They began to suspect that there was something in him greater than human nature, observing the boy’s refined modesty. They remembered how, as they were setting out, he had suddenly appeared descending from the highest peak of Mount Carmel—a place believed by all to be most divine and inaccessible to most people. He had approached them gradually and with a quiet, solitary air, neither stumbling over any precipice nor being hindered by any impassable rock. Standing there, he had simply called out to the ship: "Are you bound for Egypt?" When they promised and nodded that they were, he climbed aboard and sat in silence. Throughout the entire voyage, even when he should have been moved by the ship's motion, he remained in one and the same posture for two nights and three days, taking neither food, nor drink, nor sleep. Although he did not hide from them, he maintained an unbending and unshaken perseverance, sleeping only for the briefest moments. These things continued original Greek: Καὶ σεμνότερον παρὰ προσδοκίαν (Kai semnoteron para prosdokian); "and more majestically than could be expected", and with the voyage proceeding directly and favorably for them—as if by the presence of some god—the sailors observed all these signs and concluded among themselves that a truly divine spirit demon The word "demon" (daimon) here does not mean an evil spirit, but a divine or supernatural being that mediates between gods and men. was indeed crossing with them from Syria to Egypt.

FROM THERE, he entered into all the sacred rites with the greatest zeal and diligent investigation. He was held in admiration and loved by the priests and prophets with whom he associated. He was instructed most diligently in every single matter, not omitting anything that was held in high regard among them.