[dr_dshiv]

Well, technically he founded “philosophy” more than a religion.

Polytheism was really old, of course. But intellectual polytheism (which requires an esoteric treatment of gods as metaphors) was basically new and then lasted for 1000 years. Pythagoras is also credited with coining the term “philosophy” and the term “Cosmos.”

In addition to his coinage, he also started the first communist society. So many opposites. Music/math, religion/science, communism/capitalism, harmony/war (he conquered the sybarites), etc. He was vegetarian but, when he discovered his eponymous theorem, he sacrificed a “Hecatomb” at Delphi — that’s 100 cattle.

Of course, all of this is disputed. (But happy to provide sources for any of it).

He is textually associated with the druids and the Jews! Nuts.

[khafra]

> Well, technically he founded “philosophy” more than a religion.

If it executes a guy for revealing secrets and/or heretical discoveries, it's mroe of a religion than a philosophy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippasus

[CoastalCoder]

> But intellectual polytheism (which requires an esoteric treatment of gods as metaphors)

This reminds me of a very funny parody of various theologies on the early Christian church:

https://youtu.be/KQLfgaUoQCw?si=8ujKk4bmCNhabbTE

[hnfong]

If you have a list of links of stuff Pythagoras did (whether disputed or not), do let me know. I'd happily gobble them up.

[Someone]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras#Attributed_discover... has a list. I think all of them are at least disputed if not outright considered untrue.

[iamshs]

Fascinating. Provide sources please. I need to learn more about this man.

[dr_dshiv]

Haha, sources for which fact? I wrote a paper that deals with Pythagoras here.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240587262...