Pythagoras: The Truth Behind the "First Vegan" Greek Philosopher
The myth of Pythagoras as a strict vegan obscures his deeper purpose: seeking harmony, purity, and the soul's ascent toward the divine cosmic order. Modern ethical vegetarians and vegans often celebrate Pythagoras, the philosopher from Samos, as an ancient pioneer of vegetarianism. He was a mystic, mathematician, and founder of a spiritual brotherhood blending science, religion, and art into a unified cosmic vision.
In popular imagination, Pythagoras is portrayed as a sage who refused meat for moral and spiritual reasons. However, ancient texts reveal a more complex view that challenges the simplistic "first vegan" label. His avoidance of meat was not a social or ethical statement by today's standards but a metaphysical practice aimed at aligning the soul with its divine origin.
Philosophy, Ritual, and Symbolism in Pythagoras's Diet
For Pythagoras, abstaining from meat reflected a ritualistic approach to spirituality. It was about purification and bringing the soul closer to the divine order that it originally belonged to. This perspective shows the symbolic rather than purely ethical foundation of his dietary choices.
Contradictions in Historical Accounts
Ancient sources differ on whether Pythagoras himself strictly avoided meat. In Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (Book VIII), Diogenes Laertius recounts that when Pythagoras discovered his famous theorem, he offered an ox as a sacrifice. This act conflicts with the strict vegetarian image often attributed to him.
"When Pythagoras discovered the famous theorem bearing his name, he offered an ox as a sacrifice." — Diogenes Laertius, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Book VIII
This contradiction indicates Pythagoras’s relationship to meat and sacrifice was ritualistic and symbolic rather than strictly abstinent or ethical in the modern sense.
Summary
Pythagoras's legacy as the "first vegan" is a simplification; his dietary practices were deeply intertwined with his spiritual and philosophical quest for cosmic harmony and the soul's purification.
"The truth lies in the intersection of philosophy, ritual, and symbolism."
Author’s summary: Pythagoras’s dietary approach was less about ethics and more a spiritual practice aiming to align the soul with the cosmos, revealing a nuanced reality behind the vegan myth.
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