Life of Pythagoras and Sentences on the Intelligibles

ON THE LIFE OF PYTHAGORAS.

...laws Completes the word "laws" from the previous page. and to obey them. One must worship the Gods not as a side-task or in passing, but rather by setting out from home specifically for this purpose. 5 To the celestial Gods, one should sacrifice odd numbers The Pythagoreans associated odd numbers with the limited, the masculine, and the divine.; but to the terrestrial Gods, even numbers. For he called the better of the opposing powers the Monad original: "monas" or "unitas." The principle of oneness and the source of all things., and light, and the right side, 10 and the equal, and the stable, and the straight. But the worse power he called the Dyad original: "duas" or "binarum." The principle of "twoness" or "otherness," associated with division and the material world., and darkness, and the left side, and the unequal, and the unstable, and the moving. 15 He also gave advice of this kind: that a cultivated and fruit-bearing plant, and also any animal that is not by nature harmful to the human race, should neither be destroyed nor harmed. One must faithfully 20 preserve a deposit a thing held in trust, not only of money, but also of words, for the sake of the one who deposited it. He held that there are three distinct classes of things 25 worthy of zeal, which must be pursued and managed. First, those things which are glorious and honorable; next, those things which are useful for life; 30 and third and last, those which are pleasant. However, he did not accept common or bewitching pleasure, but rather that which is firm, most dignified, 35 and pure from the insult of slander. For there are two kinds of plea...

...divine genus Completes the thought from the previous page: "to speak about the divine genus with the highest reverence." with the highest reverence, and to think of them in the best possible way. One must show benevolence toward parents and benefactors; one must obey the laws. The Gods should not be worshiped in passing, nor should you approach them unless you have set out from home with that specific intention. To the celestial Gods, sacrifice odd numbers; to the terrestrial Gods, however, sacrifice even numbers. For of the opposing powers, he called one better—the unit, light, the right side, the equal, the stable, and the straight; the worse, however, he called the pair, darkness, the left side, the unequal, the unstable, and the mobile. Furthermore, he also commanded these things: that a cultivated and fruit-bearing plant, and also animals that are harmless to the human race, should neither be destroyed nor harmed. A deposit not only of money but also of words must be kept in good faith for the depositor. Three classes of things are to be established as worthy of being pursued and acquired with all zeal: first, indeed, those which are glorious and honorable; second, those serving the use of life; third, truly, and last, those things which are delightful or associated with pleasure. However, he did not admit common and bewitching pleasure, but rather that which is solid, grave, and pure from all crime. For there are two kinds of plea...

In the bottom right corner, there is a circular institutional stamp with stylized calligraphic script inside.