PORPHYRY

12.26 F

[...returning to] Ionia, Pythagoras first
associated himself with Pherecydes
the Syrian Pherecydes of Syros (fl. 6th century BCE) was an early thinker often credited with teaching the immortality of the soul.; afterward with
Hermodamas A descendant of Creophylus of Samos, who was said to have been a host to Homer. the descendant of
Creophylus, who was then an old
man living in Samos. However,
Cleanthes A Stoic philosopher (c. 331–232 BCE) who wrote on physics and theology. writes that there are
others who claim his father was a
Tyrrhenian The Tyrrhenians were often associated with the Etruscans or Pelasgian peoples inhabiting the Aegean islands., from the race of those
who inhabited Lemnos; and that
having come to Samos for the sake
of business, he remained there
and was made a citizen.
Furthermore, while Mnesarchus
was sailing to Italy, Pythagoras,
who was still quite a young man,
set out together with him;
and since that land was then
flourishing greatly in wealth, he
later returned to it by ship.
He also lists his two
older brothers, Eunostus
and Tyrrhenus. But Apollonius Likely Apollonius of Tyana or Apollonius of Aphrodisias, biographers of Pythagoras.,
in his book on the life of Pytha-
goras, also records that his mother
was Pythais, who traced her
lineage from Ancaeus, the founder
of Samos. Indeed, the same
Apollonius affirms that some
reported him to be in reality
the son of Apollo and Pythais,
but the son of Mnesarchus in
name; and for that reason, a
certain Samian poet says:

5

[...Io]nia, from there Pythagoras
first associated with Pherecydes
the Syrian; second with
Hermodamas the descendant of
Creophylus, who was already
growing old in Samos. But
10

Cleanthes says that there are
others who declare his father was
a Tyrrhenian, of those who
settled in Lemnos. And that from
there, having come to Samos on
business, he remained and
became a citizen; and while
15

Mnesarchus was sailing to Italy,
Pythagoras sailed with him,
being a very young man; and
[Italy] being extremely prosperous,
he later sailed back to it.
20

He lists also his two brothers,
Eunostus and Tyrrhenus, who
were older. But Apollonius in his
writings about Pythagoras also
records his mother Pythais,
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a descendant of Ancaeus the
founder of Samos. And Apollonius
says that some relate that he was
the offspring of Apollo and
Pythais in reality, but of
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Mnesarchus in name; at any rate,
one of the Samian poets says:

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Pythagoras, whom Pythais, the most beautiful of the Samians,
bore to Apollo, dear to Zeus. original Greek: Πυθαγόραν, θ' ὃν ἔτικτε Διῒ φίλον Ἀπόλλωνι, / Πυθαΐς, ἣ κάλλος πλεῖστον ἔχεν Σαμίων.

original Latin: Pythais ex Samijs peperit pulcherrima Phæbo / Pythagoram, curam deliciasq; Iovis.

Catchword at bottom: "Δια-" (Dia-)