Observations placeholder
Pythagoras - Iamblichus's Life - And Aristotle's comments
Identifier
014633
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Aristotle Metaphysics lib 13 – The Pythagoreans
The Pythagoreans received from the theology of Orpheus the principles of intelligible and intellectual number. They assigned them an abundant progression and extended their dominion as far to sensibles themselves. Hence that proverb was peculiar to the Pythagoreans that all things are assimilated to number.
Iamblichus – Life of Pythagoras [translated by Thomas Taylor]
Pythagoras the son of Mnesarchus was instructed in what pertains to the gods, when he celebrated orgies [sic], in the Thracian Libethra, being initiated in them by Aglaophemus; and that Orpheus the son of Calliope, having learnt wisdom from his mother in the mountain Pangaeus said that the eternal essence of number is the most providential principle of the universe, of heaven and earth and the intermediate nature; and farther still that it is the root and permanency of divine natures of Gods and demons.