Theano of Croton, the first woman philosopher to lead the Pythagorean School.
When you take a look at the stories of ancient Greece, you may notice that women scientists are not very common. However, there are women who left their mark in their time, and it is impossible not to mention them. Some names, such as Hypatia, are well known today. But one famous name that most people don’t know is Theano, the wife of Pythagoras. Theano of Croton, who lived long before Hypatia, is considered to be the first woman philosopher, having uttered the phrase ‘It is better to be a stray horse than a woman who does not think’.
- Huge New Study Indicates Serotonin Imbalance Isn’t the Cause of Depression After All
- The Most Distant Galaxy Ever May Have Been Discovered by JWST.
Pythagoras of Samos (582 – 500 BC) is one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in the field of mathematics. In the absence of first-hand sources, his life and work are shrouded in myths and legends. What is certain is that Pythagoras ushered in the first golden age of mathematics.
It is also known that he founded an interesting school of philosophy, where he studied a wide variety of subjects and trained many students. (We will not include details about his life and works in this article. Those who wish can access them at the end of this article.) It is also known that this man with an extraordinary intelligence had a lucky marriage.
Theano of Croton would be Pythagoras’ Muse
Theano was born around 546 BC, probably in Crete. Her early life is not well known, but she is believed to have been the daughter of the Orphic Brontinus. Her father was a member of a religious group that focused on the cult of Osiris. This group believed in reincarnation. Today, traces of this belief can be found in Pythagorean philosophy. This suggests that Theano may have motivated her husband in many ways.
After twenty years of travel, Pythagoras had absorbed all the mathematical rules of the then known world. Finally, he set sail for his home island of Samos in the Aegean Sea. His aim was to establish a school where he could pass on the knowledge he had learned. However, over the years, the tyrant Polycrates had turned Samos, once a free country, into an intolerant and conservative society.
He then traveled to southern Italy, part of Greece, and settled in Croton. There he had good luck and the Pythagorean Brotherhood was founded. Theano and his father, whom Pythagoras had probably met during his travels, were also members of this school. Pythagoras was 56 years old at the time. Theano was much younger, but also full of passion for science. They were soon married.
In time, their home became a place where they established a school of philosophy, mathematics and nature. Theano had five children with Pythagoras, two sons and three daughters. One of the sons was named Telauges and the daughters were named Damo, Myria and Arginote. The name of the second son was forgotten over the years.
The students of this school not only listened to and understood his teachings. They also made important contributions to mathematics with new ideas and proofs. The Pythagorean Brotherhood was an egalitarian school. It also included female students. After the founding of the school, Pythagoras coined the word philosopher, thus defining the purpose of his school.
Theano continued the school after Pythagoras’ death
Unfortunately, Pythagoras’ rising power brought his death. When her school took control of the Croton government, the locals decided to destroy it. On the darkest day of Theano’s life, her husband and many other teachers and students were killed. Afterwards, many hoped that Theano would give up and return to Crete. But it was not to be.
Theano would continue the school with the support of her children. At this point, one of his daughters, Damo, would take on the task of protecting the work of her father and the other students. Thanks to these efforts, Pythagoras’ school survived for at least 200 years after the great mathematician’s death. Theano died around the 5th century BC.
Theano’s Works
Theano’s actual position in the Pythagorean School is not known for certain. However, researchers believe that he wrote important works. Today, we know that the works said to have been written by Pythagoras were written by more than one author. However, since none of his original written works have survived, we cannot find definitive answers.
Nevertheless, from some analyses it is accepted that Theano of Croton wrote many treatises on medicine, physics, mathematics and psychology. Her works were perhaps well known to Hypatia of Alexandria and other women who followed the path of science in antiquity. If more details of her life are discovered in the future, it will be possible to complete her biography and give her the recognition she deserves.
