PORPHYRY

THE PHILOSOPHER

ALSO CALLED MALCHUS original: "Malchos"; a Semitic name meaning "king."

5

or King,

THE LIFE

10

OF PYTHAGORAS.

15

IT IS AGREED
among the majority
[of authors] that he was
the son of Mnesarchus.
But regarding the lineage of
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Mnesarchus, there is disagreement.
Some say he was
a Samian. But Cleanthes, A Stoic philosopher (c. 330–230 BCE).
in the fifth book of his Fables,
says he was a Syrian
from Tyre in Syria.
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When a famine had
struck the Samians,
Mnesarchus sailed
for trade with grain to the island
and sold it, and was honored
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with citizenship.
Since Pythagoras was
naturally gifted from childhood
for every kind of learning,
Mnesarchus brought him
to Tyre. There, having
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introduced him to the Chaldeans, Ancient Babylonian astronomers and priests renowned for their mathematical and spiritual wisdom.
he had him participate
extensively in their studies.
Having returned to
Ionia

PORPHYRY

THE PHILOSOPHER

OR MALCHUS

Concerning the Life

OF PYTHAGORAS

THE BOOK.

CONSENSUS indeed
is the opinion of the
majority, that Pythagoras
was the son of Mnesarchus:
but about Mnesarchus's origin
not all agree. For
some affirm he was
a Samian. But Cleanthes
in the fifth book of Fabulous Matters
recorded that he was a Syrian,
from Tyre, a city of Syria.
But when a great famine
arose in Samos, Mnesarchus
landed at the island for the
purpose of trade, and in the
place of a reward he was
presented with citizenship.
As for Pythagoras, who from
boyhood possessed a genius
most suited to all disciplines,
he was later led by Mnesarchus
to Tyre, and was there
entrusted to the Chaldeans,
with whose teaching he
desired him to be especially imbued.
Having returned from there in