by Heraclitus Herac
Hearing the name “Pythagoras” immediately brings to mind that infamous theorem, which has robbed countless students of their sleep. If some young people wake up in terror at night, they probably see the Pythagorean theorem looming over their pillows. If a student, on the night before an exam, tries to memorize this formula, their feelings toward Pythagoras are the same as those of a motorcyclist toward the traffic officer issuing a fine.
But if you think Pythagoras was merely a mathematician, you are gravely mistaken. He was not just a master of geometry but also the founder of a mysterious secret society—a strange fusion of philosophy, religion, and mathematics. And the most astonishing fact about him is that he harbored an intense hatred for chickpeas. Whether this hostility stemmed from childhood trauma or held some deep philosophical significance, only he would know. But first, let’s look at the background of where all this philosophy originated.
In the 6th century BCE, the foundations of Greek philosophy were being laid, and the foremost question was: What is the fundamental reality of the universe? Thales declared that the essence of everything is water. However, his student Anaximander disagreed, arguing that the true reality is apeiron, an infinite and indeterminate entity. Then Anaximenes stated that neither water nor apeiron mattered—reality is air, which transforms into different forms to bring everything into existence.
Then came the Eleatic School, whose founder Parmenides declared that change and motion are mere illusions. If you think the world is changing, it is actually your mind deceiving you. In contrast, Heraclitus claimed that the only constant in the world is change itself.
Among all these thinkers, Pythagoras presented a unique theory: the essence of the universe is not in any material substance but in numbers. According to him, everything in the world follows a mathematical order—music operates on numerical principles, and even the harmony of the cosmos follows a specific numerical pattern. This concept was later incorporated into Plato’s philosophy. However, Aristotle challenged these ideas, arguing that reality lies not in numbers but in the material world.
Pythagoras founded an organization that, on the surface, appeared to be dedicated to philosophy and mathematics, but in reality, it was a strict secret society. New members had to observe complete silence for five years to train themselves in deep thinking and learning. If any new member innocently asked, “Sir, where does a² + b² = c² come from?” they would be viewed with suspicion and possibly expelled from the sect. Even love was evaluated through numerical calculations—if someone wanted to fall in love, they first had to check what their numerical compatibility was.
Another bizarre belief of Pythagoras was his intense aversion to chickpeas. He declared them impure, forbade eating them, and even stepping on them was prohibited. The reason for this remains unclear—some historians suggest that he believed human souls could reincarnate into chickpeas. Others think it was merely a personal distaste, while some speculate that chickpeas caused him indigestion.
His hatred for chickpeas was so extreme that, according to legend, when his enemies pursued him, he reached a field of chickpeas. Since his doctrine forbade stepping on them, he stopped, and his pursuers killed him right there.
It is said that Pythagoras had a golden leg—whether this was true or an exaggeration by his followers is unknown. But this story indicates that the Pythagorean sect viewed him as more than just an ordinary man; they considered him a spiritual figure.
Observing silence is the highest form of wisdom.
Numbers are the most important aspect of existence, as everything depends on them.
A person is destroyed by what they love the most.Unerstanding numerical proportions allows one to grasp the deepest truths of reality.
The greatest contributions of Pythagoras include his famous theorem, which has become a nightmare for students
If a triangle is right-angled, then the sum of the squares of its two shorter sides equals the square of its hypotenuse:
a² + b² = c²
But interestingly, this principle was not invented by Pythagoras—it was already known to Egyptian, Babylonian, and Indian mathematicians. However, because the Pythagorean sect believed in keeping knowledge secret, they ensured that the theorem became associated with Pythagoras’ name.
His second major contribution was his numerical philosophy—he believed that everything in existence follows a numerical ratio. For instance, he considered the number ten sacred because it is the sum of 1+2+3+4. He also studied the principles of music and demonstrated that musical notes follow mathematical patterns.
Pythagoras remains one of the most fascinating figures in history, blending mathematics, mysticism, and philosophy in a way that continues to intrigue scholars to this day
Note: The “Qalam Club” does not necessarily agree with the personal views of the authors
