The Wisdom of Hypatia: Ancient Spiritual Practices for a More Meaningful Life (6 page)

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Authors: Bruce J. MacLennan

Unfortunately, this involvement in politics led to the destruction of the Pythagorean order. Obviously there was much resentment of Pythagorean influence in government,

especially from the rich and powerful. The precipitating cause may have been when Cylon, scion of a wealthy and influential family, applied for membership, but was rejected for bad character. He forged documents, which he used as evidence of a secret Pythagorean conspiracy, and gathered a mob, which set fire to a Pythagorean meeting hall, burning the people inside. It is unclear whether Pythagoras died at this time, or whether he managed to escape to another city. In any case, the old guard organized uprisings in many Italian cities and banished the Pythagoreans; it was the end of their political influence. The Pythagorean order survived and spread throughout the Greek-speaking world, but they were more focused on personal spiritual practice and scientific investigation than on political action.

This is a subtler but slower means of effecting change.

sources for hypatia's philosophy 29

600

BCE

Pythagoras

500

Socrates

400

Plato Aristotle

300

Epicurus

Zeno