Pythagoras and The Meal of Hercules
Yoga Leaks
Pythagoras shows his smallest contribution to humanity Pythagoras (circa 570 BC - 470BC)
He's the guy with the triangle.
We suffered him in math class.
Annoying, for he invented nonsensical names for triangle parts, such as hypotenuse.
That about sums him up.
And this is how education fails us. Pythagoras has a story that rivals Jesus or any historical figure of biblical times. Of all that he was, the triangle stuff was his smallest contribution to the illumination of humanity.
His early life resembled Jesus’ own. His coming was foretold by an oracle. Pythagoras was immaculately conceived. And like Jesus’ father, Pythagoras’ father could not be near his pregnant wife for the duration of her pregnancy. His mother had to deliver him away from the city where she lived.
The oracle said that Pythagoras was destined to surpass all men in beauty and wisdom. He was known by the multitude of the time, as the son of God.
So this would make Jesus the Son of God 2.0. It’s probably why history made sure that Pythagoras would be known as the triangle guy. We can’t have two Son of Gods, can we?!
A Monty Python-esk conversation
Jesus: I’m the son of God!
Pythagoras: No, I’m the son of God!
Peasant: No! I’m the son of God!
(Angry silence until the peasant leaves. Jesus continues.)
Jesus: But you’re just a triangle guy!
Pythagoras: And what, because you you can do that magic trick with water and wine makes you more enlightened?!
Jesus: Mate, I’m now going to tell you what you can do with your triangle!
Pythagoras: Let’s settle this like the holiest of holy men that we are; enlightened, God-chosen men of Godly God.
(pause while Pythagoras and Jesus look to the heavens for inspiration)
Pythagoras: Rock, paper, scissors?
Jesus: (triumphant) Lizard, Spock! God has spoken through thy voice!
A crowd watches the historical game of rock, paper, scissors
Pythagoras, like Jesus did after him, traveled the known world from Egypt to India in his first few decades, to learn from every scholar and saint who would accept him.
When he returned from his journey, Pythagoras established a school in Crotona, Italy. Students were taught mathematics, music and astronomy after they passed through a series of initiations.
Pythagoras treeOne such test was if a student could figure out a certain formulae that was concealed within his name. Because of this, students never said the word Pythagoras. They would call him The Master, or That Man.
Students who hoped to enter the doors of his academy had to fast on water for 40 days. Then, eat only The Meal of Hercules for three years. The student's energy and mental faculties would only then be considered bright enough to qualify for his school.
These conditions may sound extreme; but Pythagoras, in fact, taught his students the middle path. Though he favoured a vegetarian diet, for instance, he believed that people could eat meat if they wished - as long as they did not require their faculty of judgment... (And there it is. An explanation for all the world's ills)
As Pythagoras grew older, he became stronger and more beautiful. He never aged. He had children when he was 60, and was said to be in the prime of his life when he was 100, until he was killed. A strong characteristic of Pythagoras was his humility.
The meal of Hercules
Pythagoras claimed that his meal of Hercules was the very same that Hercules (the man) ate while wandering in the Libyan desert. The formula was given to the hero by the goddess Ceres herself.
The recipe: Equal parts of poppy seed and sesame seed, the skin of sea onion (Boltenia Ovifera) with its juice thoroughly extracted, daffodil flower, mallow leaves, paste of barley and peas. Compound together with wild honey to taste.
The beverage of Hercules
PurslaneWould you like a beverage with your meal?
The recipe: Cucumber seeds, dried raisins (with seeds removed), coriander flowers, mallow seeds and purslane; scraped cheese, its meal and cream. Again, mix together with wild honey.
What I have learned from Pythagoras
- Nutrition. What we eat affects our mental faculties.
- The food. I am sure he applied sacred geometric principles to their recipes. I would love to figure out the mathematical portions of each ingredient. It will be the same as how Pulse is made.
Boltenia Ovifera (Sea Onion)Sea Onion. Pythagoras wrote a whole book about the healing properties of this vegetable. It is an expectorant, which means that it clears your body of mucous build up. Mucous weakens the body. Know what foods are mucous-forming.
- Fasting. It will cleanse and lift our energetic form.
- Son of God. More enlightened people have walked this earth than we are told.
What of the great light-bearing stories of antiquity, that has forever been surpressed and buried in the sands of time? They are all still there. One only has to look.
Reader Comments (3)
You know you have written something interesting that grips the attention and stimulates thought. Your latest blog was inspired Chantelle, well done.
My goodness you are so good at writing. How do you keep having smart, funny things to say? I particularly loved this article on Pythagoras.
Doesn't sound so appetising, but a stupid person would say that, wouldn't he. I'm sure the students and Pythagoras himself didn't even think about the taste. Food meant something so different to them than it does to us in this modern age of sense satisfaction.