Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editorIamblichus
Philosophy
Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editor
Iamblichus
Ethics, Ancient; Philosophers -- Greece -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient; Pythagoras; Pythagoras and Pythagorean school
With respect to fortitude, however, many of the particulars which have
been already related, appropriately pertain to it; such as the admirable
deeds of Timycha, and of those Pythagoreans who chose to die rather than
transgress the decisions of Pythagoras concerning beans, and other
things conformable to such-like pursuits. Such also are the deeds which
Pythagoras himself generously accomplished, when he travelled everywhere
alone, and underwent immense labors and dangers, choosing to leave his
country, and dwell among strangers. Likewise, when he dissolved
tyrannies, gave an orderly arrangement to confused polities, and
emancipated cities. When also he caused illegality to cease, and impeded
the operations of insolent and tyrannical men; exhibiting himself a
benignant leader to the just and mild, but expelling savage and
licentious men from his association, and refusing even to give them an
answer; gladly, indeed, giving assistance to the former, but with all
his might resisting the latter. Many instances therefore of these things
might be adduced, and of upright actions frequently performed by him.
But the greatest of all these, is what he said and did to Phalaris, with
an invincible freedom of speech. For when he was detained in captivity
by Phalaris, the most cruel of tyrants, a wise man of the Hyperborean
race, whose name was Abaris, was his associate, who came to him for the
sake of conversing with him, and asked him many questions, and
especially such as were of a sacred nature, respecting statues and the
most holy worship, the providence of the Gods, celestial and terrestrial
natures, and many other things of a similar kind. But Pythagoras, being
under the influence of divine inspiration, answered Abaris vehemently,
and with all truth and persuasion, so as to convince those that heard
him. Then, however, Phalaris was inflamed with anger against Abaris,
because he praised Pythagoras, and was ferociously disposed towards
Pythagoras himself. He also dared to utter blasphemies against the Gods
themselves, and such as he was accustomed to pour forth. But Abaris gave
Pythagoras thanks for what he said; and after this, learnt from him that
_all things are suspended from and governed by the heavens; which he
evinced to be the case from many other things, and also from the energy
of sacred rites_. And Abaris was so far from thinking that Pythagoras,
who taught these things, was an enchanter, that he beyond measure
admired him as if he had been a God. To these things, however, Phalaris
replied by endeavouring to subvert divination, and openly denying the
efficacy of the things which are performed in sacred rites. But Abaris
transferred the discourse from these particulars to such as are clearly
apparent to all men; and endeavoured to persuade him that there is a
divine providence, from those circumstances which transcend all human
hope and power, whether they are immense wars, or incurable diseases, or
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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