ON THE LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS

...and in the tripod, as it is called, [the god] was buried; it received this name because three maidens, the daughters of Triopus, gave birth to Apollo there. But when he reached Crete, he approached the priests of Morgos, one of the Idaean Dactyls The Dactyls were mythical archaic smiths and healers associated with Mount Ida, credited with discovering iron and ancient mystery rites., by whom he was purified with the thunderstone original: "ceraunio lapide" / "κεραυνίᾳ λίθῳ". These were often prehistoric stone tools believed to have fallen from heaven during storms and were used in ancient purification rituals.: in the morning he lay stretched out face down by the sea, and at night by the river, crowned with the fleece of a black lamb. Then, having descended into the place called the Idaean cave while clothed in black wool, he spent the customary twenty-seven days there original: "dies ternouenos" / "τριττὰς ἐννέα ἡμέρας", literally three times nine days., performed the sacred funeral rites for Jupiter original: "Ioui" / "τῷ Διΐ". In Cretan mythology, Zeus/Jupiter was believed to have died and been buried on the island, a concept that shocked other Greeks., and saw the throne that is prepared for him each year. He even carved an inscription upon the tomb, with the title: PYTHAGORAS TO JUPITER. Its beginning was:

original: "Ὧδε θανὼν κεῖται Ζᾶν, ὃν Δία κικλήσκουσιν". Zan is an archaic or dialectal name for Zeus.

But when he reached Italy and arrived in Croton, Dicaearchus A student of Aristotle and a respected historian and geographer. says that upon the arrival of a man who had traveled through many regions and was so extraordinary—one who, by his own nature, had been well-favored by fortune—for his very appearance was noble and grand...

...and in the tripod, as they call it, [he] was buried: to which this name was given because three girls, the daughters of Triopus, brought forth Apollo in that place. But when he reached Crete, he went to the priests of Morgos, one of the Idaean Dactyls, by whom he was purified with the thunderstone: in the morning, indeed, lying face down near the sea, but at night near the river, wreathed in the fleece of a black lamb. Then, when he descended into the Idaean cave dressed in black wool, he passed three-times-nine days there according to the accepted custom, and performed the funeral rites for Jupiter, and saw the sacred couch original: "puluinar". A cushioned seat or bed used in the "lectisternium" ritual where images of gods were laid out to "eat" and "rest." which is spread for him every year. Furthermore, he even carved an Epigram on his tomb, with this title: PYTHAGORAS TO JUPITER: the beginning of which is:

But when, approaching Italy, he reached Croton, Dicaearchus says, as if at the arrival of a man famous for his travels through many regions, and one who had found most prosperous fortune as a guide through an extraordinary and peculiar gift of nature (for both in his face...