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Karim El-Koussa
Birth[8]: On the Path to Greatness.
Temples of Canaan-Phoenicia
Egyptian Mysteries
Pythagoras rushed to comment, “I believe that the most important thing in the Olympiad is not to win but to partake. It is not the triumph but the struggle…”
“Sure! This is enough to bring honor to each athlete and to Niké, the goddess of victory!” Eratocles agreed; the sparkle back in his eyes. “Do you know that the winners of the ultimate prize are bathed in olive oil, crowned with an olive wreath, or laurel leaves, and celebrated?”
Pythagoras chuckled at his enthusiasm and nodded.
Eratocles followed his dream in words. “The fame of the champions follows them all their lives. They will never have to labor another day, or pay for food again, because of the grandeur their triumph brings to their home village! Did you know that?”
“I know indeed, the way I know that losing breaks the body, mind and spirit of these men.”
Eratocles went quiet, his features lost their brightness. His stout shoulders sagged slightly and his eyes glared at the distance with a mixture of gloom and frustration.
“Come on, cheer up, my son!” Pythagoras exclaimed in an encouraging tone and a friendly tap on his back. “It is always good to exercise the body.”
“Yes, but… you know…,” the young man seemed aching to confide in him. “I have been practicing for so long… every day…! It has been my dream… my life aim… since I was a kid!”
“I understand this, but that is not enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let me ask you something, son. What is your aim behind all your training?” His gentle, yet firm, tone commanded the full attention of the youngster. “Isn’t it because of your wish to become a perfect athlete? An all time winner?”
Eratocles nodded hopeful.
Pythagoras pursued, “And of course for the ultimate Prize… the crown of laurel!”
The young man gave him a complying nod.
“Eratocles, exercising only your body will not get you close to perfection. You should also train your mind and your spirit.”
“I don’t understand…” Eratocles appeared confused, but eager to know more.
“See, man is a tri-une being. If the mind and spirit are not in good shape, then, I tell you, the body could never be. The perfect man is the one who succeeds a perfect equilibrium. And in order to reach such perfection, he should first unite his mind, spirit and body in one.”
“I see…” Eratocles muttered pensively, as if trying to absorb its whole meaning. “But…,” he hesitated to formulate his thought.
“Yes, son?” Pythagoras encouraged him with a gentle pressure of his tone.
“How to?” he finally exclaimed loudly. “How to undertake such a path to perfection? How to reach this unity you mentioned? It seems impossible!”
“No, my friend, it is not,” Pythagoras kept to his firmly gentle tone. He deemed the moment appropriate to move into the next step. “In fact, this can be done. I can tell you how.”
“You mean that you know how?” Eratocles exclaimed with expectation. “How then? Tell me! I know you are different from any one I have ever met in my entire life. I have attended a couple of your sermons. You have that… wisdom and… aura. Tell me, please! Do you know the way to train my mind and my spirit?”
Although Pythagoras had waited for this opening, he abstained from answering. He just smiled and hooked his eyes on the boy’s. Time stood still for a moment. Light glowed from his soul to grab the young man in his charm, and impart him with his tranquility.
“Would you teach me, please?”
Pythagoras grinned, so did his heart in victory. He had just found his first disciple and, with him, the door to reach out to others in the long run. His insight did not betray him. The mass had not listened to him, nor had he managed to bring them into the circle of enlightenment, simply because their full attention had lacked.
His mission took off!
* * *
The Master started teaching Eratocles on the sciences of arithmetic and geometry. He conducted his demonstrations using an abacus[29]. Eratocles proved to be a neophyte of great interest. The sophisticated studies did not rebuke him. On the contrary, they absorbed him completely. Pythagoras trained his mind in the art of numbers and Initiated him on the marvelous discipline of mental refinement. Eventually, the bonds between the Master and his first disciple tightened.
They decided to undertake a tour visit to the major cities of Greece. They therefore left Samos and sailed together. They halted at the beautiful shore of Athena where they rested for the night in a small hut by the sea.
In the morning, they meandered in the streets of the city before pursuing in their journey. Their expedition took them through most of the cities of Greece where they visited almost all of the most important temples. Some welcomed Pythagoras as a true Master. Others invited him to sit with the Hierophants, give sermons and hold meetings.
Naturally, Eratocles became the first Pythagorean. Master and scholar continued across the high and wild mountains. They traversed the evergreen forests in destination to Delphi. Albeit strenuous, their long expedition granted them many experiences to enjoy, countless moments to learn, and lots of occasions to teach others. Amazing as it was, the natural environment filled them with awe and peaceful joy; the kind that only untouched nature could grant.
They finally approached Delphi. The city was situated beneath the cliff of Mount Parnassus, and above the valley of the Plistus River. Topped by a splendid theatre in the heart of the mountain, the Temple of Apollo appeared upon a rocky platform. Like a glorious god on his throne, the most holy place in all of Greece, and surely the most impressive of all, received the morning light of Apollo; the God-Light of the Grecian world.
Legend related that, in his youth, the god Apollo had confronted and killed Python with an arrow. Consequently, the lair of the huge serpent of Mount Parnassus became the base on which rose his Temple.
Apollo, in fact, represented an esoteric reality, where the mysteries of life - past, present and future - anchored in the hearts and minds of the true seekers. Harmony between Earth and Heaven, and between body and spirit, would reach its achievement in the lives of people, especially the Initiates among them.
Pythagoras had intended to visit that particular Temple to revitalize the energy in the hearts and minds of its priests and priestesses. He, in fact, wanted to create a substantial effect in the soul of Greece.
Inside the hall, he encountered Theoclea, also known as Themistoclea. The priestess, famous for her inborn clairvoyance who was in her late forties. He perceived the glow of her spirit. However, he soon noted that her extrasensory perception lacked the full development much needed for her admission in the profession of Priestess-Medium, or the Pythoness.
As per the legend, the god Apollo himself had bestowed the gift of prophecy on the Pythia, the priestess of the Temple. In reverence, the Grecian rules of sanctity restricted the admission into the profession of priestess to very few young virgins, chosen from the poorest Grecian families. Theoclea formed one of that rare elite. She led a life of asceticism in the abode of the sanctuary, and resided in the seclusion of an annexed room.
During her first meeting with him, Theoclea addressed him with significant respect and veneration. She referred to him as the Great Master. Pythagoras knew that she had probably sensed his extra-sensory energy. Her receptive attitude eventually facilitated his aim in contributing a considerable influence, not only on her life, but also on the many around her. In fact, her conscientious stance and unruffled attention encouraged his words of wisdom, as did her sensible attitude.
Pythagoras and Eratocles spent the night there. They welcomed the much needed rest. Their expedition had ensued long and strenuous.
The Sun-Apollo rose on them, the next morning, from behind Mount Parnassus. The stones of the Temple warmed and tinted with gradual golden hues. The early Sun wrapped them in beauty as it smoothly penetrated into the heart of the sanctuary.
In a white tunic, bundled up at the waist by a blue belt, Pythagoras followed, with quiet steps, the entry of the sunrays into the main hallway. He joined the priests there gathered for their morning prayer. When the ceremony ended, they exchanged greetings and assembled to converse. They discussed the improvement of their priesthood, and the rejuvenation of the divine energy in their hearts and minds. From his side, Pythagoras participated in their conversation with great interest. Before the meeting ended, he requested their permission to Initiate Theoclea into his secret teachings. He imparted them with his strong belief in her capability to assume the role of their Priestess-Medium. Impressed, the priests granted him that unique permission.
And impressed the high representatives were indeed, as the Master would take his seat at the heart of the shrine every day to teach them on the occult doctrine. He would deepen his discourses on the future of the world, and the destiny of humanity. A man of vision, and a Master of thoughts, he contributed his influence in the process. He captivated their utmost attention with his narration on his long years of Initiation into the Phoenician mysteries. With the fervor of passion, and the deference of devotion, he faithfully imparted them with his lengthy edification from Egypt. The high representatives astounded at the mysteries of Isis, and the light of Osiris. They wondered at the fact that the Egyptian Initiation could expose the spiritual potentials of man. The concept turned to a major topic of debate. They tackled the immense possibility of man to become the Microcosm of the Macrocosm. The Master ended revealing to them the Great Mysteries of the gods descending to men, and men ascending to the gods.
Powerful and meaningful, his words penetrated their minds. He, the Master of Wisdom, the holder of the charisma of a god, enveloped them in his brightness, and fueled them with the incandescent flame of his acumen.
With the daily teachings of the Master, Theoclea received the same fire whose essence imprinted deep into her heart and mind. In her transparency, she communicated her changes to him. With prudence, Pythagoras escorted her imagination to worlds beyond the restricted human walls. She, his new disciple, lifted up her own mind beyond those margins in order to soar high into the infinite sphere of spirits and gods.
From her avowals, Pythagoras knew that the vague visions of her past trances had finally unveiled their blindfolds to allow her into the sphere of the spiritual virtual reality. Despite its similarity with her visible space, she fathomed the greatest difference between these two worlds. They both existed primarily in the level of vibration; faster in the spiritual space than in the material world. The balance between them existed in her mind, both conscious and unconscious.
Perched on his throne of truth, at the heart of the Temple, Pythagoras continued on his discourses of enlightenment. With a fierce passion, he spoke against wars and destructions that humanity instigated.
“War and destruction! Those ailments and tragedies we inflict upon ourselves through time, whether recorded or not in the history of our humanity! Those deeds, my friends, are always evil chapters in our human memory, in the reminiscence of our Mother Earth, and in the eye of our beholder, our Father who art in Heaven!” Pythagoras proclaimed out loud. “But know thee! The light of salvation is at hand! It is in the will of those who perceive the Divine Inspiration.” He paused and closed his eyes for the time his mind took to orbit around the Truth.
Silence and utmost attention reigned in the hall as the Assembly waited with respect and anticipation. Pythagoras opened his eyes then to roam around the hall before he rendered his next tirade.
“It is to you, honest priests, and to all the prophets and sages, that the gods reveal themselves. The Sophia of the gods shines upon those who seek wisdom, whether they are priests, civilians or common devotees. However, those who abide to materialistic interests are rendered blind to the truth! They shall always remain prisoners to the darkness of their ignorance!”
Priests and priestesses, there present, absorbed those words in quietness. They appeared reflecting on their meanings and on the enormous responsibility that lay heavily upon their shoulders. Silent with their meditation they remained all day and throughout the night that ensued.
Among all, Theoclea was the most affected, thus the most advanced in his knowledge as she received a special teaching from the Master. Her life changed upon her new perceptions. She underwent a significant transformation, patent to all. Consequently, the priests did not need to deliberate further in assigning her to the vital role of Medium-Priestess. Her prophetic voice became indeed crystal clear, as did her visions. Theoclea became the Pythia of the Temple!
The night in which they celebrated the birthday of Apollo, Pythagoras and Eratocles witnessed, inside a small room of the Temple, the preparations of Theoclea for the ceremony of the Oracle. Dressed all in white, as a symbol of her virginity, she brought the receptacle of the laurel of Apollo with reverent gestures. These sacred leaves would permit her a deep, yet conscious, sleep. She chewed them slowly, her eyes closed as if savoring a delicious meal. On the ground crevice stood a sacred brass tripod, angled into numinous mathematical degrees. Prophetic vapors emanated from that rift to engulf the chair where Theoclea settled.
Obscurity reigned in the cell. Theoclea fell into a trance that should convey her into another spiritual dimension. She started crossing the borders of the visible world. She soon mumbled her first incoherent words. Pythagoras deemed them to be addressed to the god Apollo.
…By the mouth of Python, the Serpent of Wisdom…
Eager to decode her enigmatic words, he edged closer. With a low voice, he pitched into her trance, “Where are you, Theoclea?”
The words surged from the fog, husky and uncertain, “On my way up….I managed to leave Earth….”
“Very good, Theoclea!” He encouraged her, yet his voice remained deep and stumpy. “Have you reached the invisible kingdom yet?”
He waited patiently for her reply that took endless moments.
“Very close… very close now….”
The silence of patience inhabited the cell.
“Wow!” She finally uttered in awe. Her voice became clear, more confident, heightened by excitement. “I can sense it! The spiritual energy…. It is all around me!”
“Theoclea, focus with me,” he commanded coolly. “Can you see the future? Something? Anything?”
“No, Master, not yet!”
“It is fine, Theoclea,” he implied in reassurance. “You are still looping the spheres above.”
“Yes, Master. I am,” she confirmed his statement.
“I can feel the high level of your vibrations here. They are swift like the speed of light. You are edging closer, Theoclea!”
“I think so, Master Pythagoras. I think so!”
He waited for a couple of minutes before asking her again, “Where are you now?”
“I’m up…. Way up…. I’m floating inside the celestial realm!”
“Great! Go on! What do you see up there?”
“I see the gods! I see the bright light of Apollo!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious. Pythagoras smiled.
“What else, Theoclea? What else can you see?”
“Ah! Humanity, Master…. Humanity dawdling more inside darkness than light! War, Master! A lot of wars and human suffering…. Moments of peace are sparse… here and then in Times,” she foresaw the future with patent pain in her voice. She seemed to suffocate in her words. “This dual correlation of war and peace appears unavoidable with humanity. It shall continue as such forever. There is no escape really,” she grieved on her announcement, her voice husky and tearful.
“You, Master, you are a true messenger of the god Apollo. You will work in setting right the course of things. Sadly, your noble attempts will not last. At least, from what I foresee, you will have tried!” Her voice broke into a sorrowful tone.
Albeit bleak for him, the news did not perturb him. He remained poised and settled in his faith and belief. What mattered for him ultimately was the achievement of his mission on Earth. In truth, at this very moment, he felt particularly concerned about Theoclea and her tearful distress. He stared down at her with compassion. Her trance waned. Her consciousness restored, she opened her eyes. With the tips of his fingers, he touched her tears then tasted lightly their tepid bitterness.
The eyes she lifted at him carried an intense sadness that broke his heart. In an impulsive act of sympathy, he bent to hug her. He sought to absorb her cold in the warmth of his embrace. Desperate for reassurance, she ensnared him tightly. He patted her on the back in fatherly solace. He kept comforting her until her quivers and tears ceased, and her tension eased down.
Her questioning eyes then pierced his in search for an answer that could contradict the angst of her vision. Swiftly, Pythagoras turned his head away and squared Eratocles in the eyes; eyes as distressed as those of Theoclea. To confirm, to both his disciples, the veracity of her prophecy would mean to proclaim the inevitability of Human Fate; a revelation he had already foreseen, in successive frames, through his previous profound meditations.
Wordless, he walked out of the cell, followed closely by Eratocles mute in grief. The steps of the Master resumed firmly. Confident in the success of his present mission at Delphi, he looked ahead with anticipation. Nothing retained him there anymore. Like Theoclea, yet through a particular guidance prepared for them, the priests and priestesses had duly undertaken their Initiation into the Sacred Doctrine.
Time for Pythagoras to move on!
At dinner time, Pythagoras revealed to his hosts his decision to continue with his journey. Although expected, the announcement saddened the Assembly of the priests. They gathered around him to express their gratitude at the teachings he had so lovingly contributed. They affirmed having enjoyed every moment spent with him inside their sacred sanctuary.
Pythagoras urged them again to accomplish their new mission. Now, aware of their real duty, they pledged to abide at all cost. As they bid him and his faithful disciple farewell, he, from the depth of his heart, wished for them the light of the God El-Apollo to shine upon them, and all over the land of Greece, once again.
At dawn, Pythagoras and Eratocles left the Temple, almost a month after their arrival. With hopeful expectation, they undertook the road to their new destination.
* * *
Pythagoras and Eratocles stopped over in Athena for the night. They left the next morning on the first ship sailing to Samos. Upon disembarking in the island, Pythagoras decided to look for a place to reside outside the city. He opted for a spectacular cave at the foot of a mountain and made it his home[30].
He spent the next days and nights formulating his ideas, and expressing his inner love to Sophia. Eventually, his Divine Energy engulfed Eratocles with peace and remarkable inspiration.
At the emergence of spring, meditation carried Pythagoras to a new dimension of deliberation. In accordance, he worked in devising an effective scheme to establish the school of his discipline. By one of these evenings, his silent concentration went so profound in his being that he switched into a different state of mind. It soon expanded beyond the world of senses.
The celestial dimension received his spirit among the radiant stars in the darkness of the sky… or maybe even further, into the first light of the Universe. The Universal Mind revealed, glimpse by glimpse, the intricate configurations of the infinite scheme of the cosmic life. The Rising transpired stronger, and more uplifting than ever.
And he, like never before, felt a significant spiritual inter-correlation with the Divine Will. He, and everything around him, in all directions and in all dimensions, became one single truth. A Unity Point of the manifested and the obscure, and of the created and the uncreated, shone brightly and radiated with energy inside and outside, linking the only one reality, and the many virtual realities, in one state of eternal balance.
Several similar cerebrations followed the sublimation of that night. Pythagoras managed to solve many other crucial issues in his other mental reflections. He also relied on mathematical demonstrations to develop and complete his science of the planets. As a result, he crossed far beyond the classical science and achieved thereafter a melodic formula of the cosmos. Such musical scale differed, in tonality, from one planet to another, through their calculated distances.
In consequence, Pythagoras became ready at that time to implement his grand vision of a cosmic harmony. From his home-cave at the foot of that mountain, just at the outskirts of Samos, he finally instigated his messianic mission to save the world, so to speak.
* * *
Long and deeply rooted in the heart of the great cities of Canaan-Phoenicia and Egypt, the knowledge of Sophia had lacked a complete acceptance from Greece. When, at a later stage, a cultural turmoil spread through and beyond the Mediterranean basin, the philosophical erudition of Sofia emerged to undergo a rapid ascension. The reputation of Pythagoras crossed the borders of Samos and broadened through the Isles of the Aegean Sea. It ultimately reached the heart of the Grecian world where his wisdom gained gradual admiration.
Eventually, the first tangible response surged from Samos. Young Samians sought his teachings on a daily basis to learn the basic principles of the perfect life. Soon, hundreds of youth from all around Greece joined him. They all craved to adhere to his Circle of Sophia.
Many remained and lived with him in his cave, becoming as such his life companions. That natural place of abode held a special meaning to him and Eratocles. As in all occult societies of all times, the cave represented the matter from which the world was made. From there, the souls would move out of their human prison in search of the light - the freedom - either by death, or by Initiation.
Among the hundreds of youth who attended his teachings on a daily basis, his live-in followers counted the thirty by then. They would all heed and learn his newly formulated discipline. Encouraged by the successful outcome, Pythagoras carried on with his mission, aiming at making of his audacious vision a reality.
With that perspective in mind, he decided to expand his quarters. He deemed the cave inconvenient for certain lessons. Therefore, he looked for another haven for the transmission of other parts of his sacred teachings. A place in the open air would be ideal, he decided.
His disciples reacted with cheers at the idea. They joined hands in renovating a natural rocky amphitheater with a view over the city. It formed a semi-circle, known as a Hemikyklion.
The surroundings bestowed on them serenity and peace. The nearby mountain would shield them from the wind, and grant them cool shades from the sunrays. There, surrounded by the abundant greenery and the musical twitters of the free birds, they would gather around the Master. In a friendly mood, they would meet to acquire the basic formation for their spiritual life. Among the thirty disciples, Pythagoras spotted some outstanding minds. Other than Eratocles, of course, names like Archippus, Melissus, Lacon, Glorippus, Heloris, Eurymenes and Hippon shone in the secrecy of his vision.
Some prominent citizens surprised him one day with their unexpected visit and urgent request. They needed him to represent them before the Greek Governor Syloson, the youngest brother of their previous Persian-allied ruler, Polycrates. They asserted trusting his wisdom. They urged him to handle the administration of the affairs of the city and heed their issues. In short, they wished for him to stand as their political leader.
Albeit surprised, Pythagoras did not turn them down. On the contrary, he considered their demand with thoughtfulness. The task would certainly require his active involvement, and consequently a major responsibility from his side. Yet, keen for justice to be served, he, the loyal citizen, conceded to their request. Since they granted him a great deal of trust, he pledged his best to succeed with that new mission.
His goodwill and determination did not waver in front of the many difficulties he soon encountered in his public and political assignment. Mundane laws were alien to him. He found himself unable to compromise or, even abide, by the metropolitan laws so wanted by the populace. In unison to that burdening task, his attention prevailed on his primary goal in life; Sophia, there in his abode and with his semi-circle of Initiation!
Soon, pressure weighed heavily on him. The fact that the Samians proved inflexible and even showed aversion towards his divine wisdom took him aback. They refused to even consider applying Sofia to their social lives. He realized with growing frustration that their first and last focus lay uniquely on the Laws of Man. They would not even accept the Divine Laws he, a messenger of El-Apollo, had brought them; although, all that he had required was for them to create a balance between the Divine Laws and the Laws of Man. Pythagoras faced his first major disappointment!
He withdrew into his own deliberation to ponder seriously on his fate. Inside the cave, partially illuminated with a candle, he thought things over.
What is the purpose of my mission?
What is the use of it if I am unable to help those in need?
How should I proceed if those who really need me are unwilling to heed my perception and accept it?
Should I abandon them?
Lost and confused, he recoiled into heavy deliberations that night. The silver rays of the moon sneaked inside the cave where he had retreated. Some of his disciples slept around him. The others took to the green pastures for their nightly rest under the stars; a respite which escaped the Master in his worries. He decided that sleep would not capture him until he could find a tangible answer to his dilemma.
Worries revolved to thoughts, and thoughts to meditations, and meditations to a deep trance…
The fog on his vision cleared up. The light of wisdom shone wholly above his God-Head. The essence of his mission materialized in a mysterious way in front of him, and so did the right steps to undertake. The idea of establishing a school of life became imperative in his mind. He foresaw a discipline that would reveal wisdom to men, and teach them the sciences of life. For that, he would have to create a perfect place of balance that could awaken, once and for all, the god latent in every human sanctuary.
For certain, no politician or businessman could ever pull through such an institution meant for the real Initiates, true Men and Women; those inspired Fathers and blessed Mothers.
Pythagoras still had to consider the right location. He would not consider Samos an option. As a matter of fact, in order to make his vision a reality, he needed to aim for a liberal country that would be more tolerant to new ideas, more lenient towards new understanding, and unrestrained from demagogic environments.
His idea of reform did not comprise any organized revolution against any state whatsoever. It rather aimed for a life of utopia that would provide, among other things, a complete free system of education for the youth. The initial and final implementation of his vision, however, would disallow at all cost all kind of rebellious and chaotic movements that could generate uncivilized confrontations.
From that perspective, the organization of his secular Initiation should be nourished by his wise concept of transforming, step by step, the rigid political constitution of a state into a sound adaptation of the knowledgeable Sophia. In other words, he envisioned the establishment of the perfect city, there where the Divine Laws and the Mundane Laws could be harmoniously united in the heart and mind of society.
However, such an ideal place for the induction of his unique project ensued harder to find than he had first expected. Most of the Grecian cities dwelled under tyrants imposed by the Persians. People could not elect their own governors. The remaining cities that had escaped Persian authority had fallen in the hands of fanatics who claimed to embody a divine right doctrine. Obviously, the false notion had given them freewill to govern the souls of people, and bury their relics in the matrix of time and space.
Pythagoras visualized the liberation of Human Beings. His sacred spiritual teachings would unchain them from the circles of necessity that bound them to Earth much too often and caged them inside the abode of matter. He would have to liberate them in order for them to fly up into the spheres of eternity. Only then, would they be able to become gods and goddesses with free wings; impulses of the Universal Mind.
Dawn cracked the darkness of the night when he stretched down to sleep; in his heart a broad smile, and in his mind a clear destination to his imminent journey.
A couple of hours later, he leaped to his feet with renewed vigor. He rushed to the river to wash. He marched decisively back into the cave where his disciples shared their first greetings of the day.
“We are leaving!” He announced high and loud.
“What?!”
Ignoring the general stupor, and the stunned faces of his disciples, he marched straight to his corner to pack his personal belongings.
“Prepare yourselves, brothers. We are leaving right now!”
“Leaving? You mean… leaving… for good?” Melissus stuttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.
With a smile meant to comfort his followers, he confirmed, “Yes, for good!” Pythagoras did not stop his task at hand.
Archippus scratched his head in puzzlement. He asked in an anxious pitch, “But… uh! What about Samos?”
“Come on, Master! What is in your mind?” Eratocles urged him in exasperation. “Tell us your thoughts, please!”
Pythagoras veered to address them, “Well my friends… the truth is that it is time for us to leave. We have a mission to accomplish, and it cannot be done here.”
“And Samos?” Lacon exclaimed in wonder, mirroring the anxiety of Archippus.
“My heart is with the Samians, of course! Rest assured that I shall never forget about them, neither shall you. But, for now, we are leaving. My mind is set!”
“And where are we going?” Glorippus retorted in frustration. “Who need us more than the Samians?”
“In fact, there are some who do need us more. They are the young people of Magna Graecia. There, men and women are totally abandoned to themselves. They are in dire necessity of knowledge. And us, my friends, we are going to give them just that!”
Smiles drew instantly on their faces. Some cheered and others laughed in excitement. The Master had managed to infuse them with his enthusiasm, with just a simple tirade.
As a result, less than a couple of hours later, they left behind the cave that had sheltered them for several months. If some looked back with a sigh of regret, Pythagoras marched with determination, his eyes ahead on his mission. All of them, nonetheless, took the road down to the shore in a jovial mood. They reached the harbor at the time when a Phoenician ship finished disembarking its load of people and merchandise.
Half an hour later, the same ship transported them in destination to Italy.
The City of a god
Initiation
The Theology of Numbers
Pythagoras resumed his life and responsibilities as soon as he reached the White City. Satisfied with the successful trials of some of the Outer Circle, he approved their admittance into the Inner Circle in order for them to pursue more profound truth. Keen to have them as his direct disciples, he soon summoned them to the ritual ceremony. He intended to sanctify them, for them to become his Pythagorean mathematikoi. Inside the crypt of the sanctuary of the Muses, he prepared himself to receive them, standing at his sides, his skillful Sebastikoi adepts and a few mathematikoi.
The nine Muses, regarded as the goddesses of harmony, sciences, and arts, stood in wait. Divided into three categories for the three elements, the Muses consisted of the three superior goddesses. The first category presided over the sciences of Cosmogony, covering both Astronomy and Astrology. They mastered the art of divination, and managed both the concept of life and of death. They also handled the spirits of the au-delà and their reincarnations. The second trio, the middle Muses, presided over the sciences of Man, which covered magic, psychology, and medicine. The last group of three regulated all living forms in the mundane world as well as the four elements that shaped life: fire, wind, water and earth.
The new Disciples, numbered in ten, finally entered the crypt with utmost reverence. Although hoods covered their heads, their faces seemed to radiate with expectation, for they were about to penetrate, at last, the secret domain of the Master. Their eyes reflected their awe and wonder at the scene in front of them.
In turn, Pythagoras received them with the respect and honor they had earned from him. He gazed for a moment at Aristaeus of Crotona then his heart warmed when he met Theano’s eyes.
With a serene smile, he shared their joy, for he would soon reveal to them the Great Mysteries of Life. They had come, in fact, to undergo a higher level of the Pythagorean system; Purification, known also as the second degree. From there onward, they would receive the esoteric knowledge from mouth to ear, so to speak, for the simple reason that the essence of the Occult Doctrine resided purely in the enigmatic science of numbers. It is followed by the concept of the universal evolution of the manifested realities that would undoubtedly lead them to the understanding of the final abode; there where the human psyches reside. Hence, they would certainly become like gods since they would achieve a sublime unification with the Universal Mind. De facto, the process embodied pure Occultism – the real magic.
In principle, all former Initiates of the Ancient World had come to know the basic forms of the science of numbers, the esoteric sacred meanings of the twenty-two alphabetical letters, and the hidden essence of geometrical figures. Secretly implemented by the High Priests, this secret science existed in the Phoenician sacred tradition and in the Egyptian system. It also transpired in the Babylonian method, the Zoroastrian mode, and the Hindu Initiation. These secrets had remained hidden from the vulgar, the common populace, for it contained the keys to the occult world. They would only emerge during their ceremonies of Initiation.
Pythagoras had adopted their structures and developed them into an effective and more profound system. In short, he had created a new way known as the Pythagorean method inculcated to his disciples at that second degree. At any rate, the principles of foundation behind the Theology of Pythagoras were deep-rooted in the science of sacred mathematics, the world of numbers. Eruditely formulated, and meticulously purified, his theology became equal to the sacred verb of the Phoenician-Egyptian tradition of the Great White Fraternity.
At that very moment, inside the crypt, the nine goddesses moved to surround the majestic statue of Hestia-Isis; the perfect goddess veiled with mystery. Her left hand held a torch that emitted a translucent light. Her right one was pointed towards the Heavens. Isis represented the guardian of the divine essence, which existed everywhere. She symbolized Sophia: the Divine Hokmah.
Pythagoras stood steadfast at her feet, as if he was her son Horus. The long purple robe, which he wore over his white tunic and purple belt, reflected his divine image. The religious functionaries of the Order, the Sebastikoi, flanked him from the right and his few mathematikoi from the left. In front of him, the soon-to-be mathematikoi waited in reverence.
He gazed at each one, in turn, to examine their souls then issued with authority, “Fellow young brothers and sisters, I command you to honor the coming words with a tranquil soul. By adhering to the Inner Circle, you will undertake a purification of your body. Only then will you be able to control the tricky and exigent desires of the physical world. To be more precise, I imply the strong sexual energy that you must completely eliminate from your life, for the time being.”
The disciples did not seem to have any problem with that. No reaction emanated from them whatsoever. Relieved, Pythagoras moved on to the revelations he intended to impart as a start.
“Today, you will learn the four important rules concerning the knowledge of the occult sciences. Listen and listen well to the Truth of the primary elements of Sophia that I am about to reveal to you!”
“First, know that Mathematics reside at the deepest level of reality. That is why I have named you mathematikoi,” he added with a smile. “Mathematics is a theoretical science that helps you seek the mysterious world of numbers in order to meditate upon the Divine Truth. Mathematics shall guide your thinking process, and make your analysis sequentially clear. It is, indeed, the second best form of mind purification, certainly after Philosophy. It will elevate you towards the realm of reality, where you should reside in order to build the world.”
The disciples shared murmurs of excitement and grinned with enthusiasm. The idea of mastering reality and building a new world infused them with a new energy patent in the sparkles of their eyes.
“The second principle, my friends, concerns the benefit of Philosophy to the psyche. In truth, it is the highest form of purification. Brothers and sisters, you are the future Philosophers. Know thyselves!”
The new mathematikoi gasped in elation and a few fervent whispers ensued. With a hand gesture, the Master claimed stillness in order to carry on.
“The third principle reveals to you certain symbols that shall engage you directly through your journey into the Inner Circle. These symbols carry mystical meanings that shall arouse the unconscious in you, and make it conscious of itself; and that, in order to awaken the state of your intuitive knowledge.”
“The fourth principle, my friends, implies the Divine Powers that were implemented, de facto, within your individual psyche at the beginning of your life. Not only from the moment you were born, but from the very instant of your conception! The Truth I tell you! These powers shall levitate you through Initiation to unite you with the Central Fire of the Universe; the Divine Spirit that is the Great Monad.”
Their most serious spiritual expedition into reality’s realm had just started. They would come to float beyond time and space to penetrate, then merge, with the hieros logos of the Master; that sacred discourse that would expose to them the Ultimate Truth of Numbers.
“The Number is not an abstract quantity. It is indeed a real and active virtue of the Supreme One; He who is the Source of Universal Harmony!” The Mathematician asserted in their direction. “The Number is also a factual and dynamic asset of the harmonious structure of the Psyche. It is the wisest! Numbers are the Divine Powers that are in action within the Macrocosm and the Microcosm. They are the movers of the Kosmos and the rulers of all forms and ideas. They are gods!”
“I tell you, now and always, do not speak of God without putting some light on, for God is the True Light. Accept Him with a free spirit!”
He paused for the ritual of Light that would allow them to reflect on the important concept of light and God. Hence, the Sebastikoi handed over a torch to every new mathematikoi. In turn, the disciples proceeded to the purified fire smoldering in the center. They enkindled their torches and walked back to their places. There, they placed them into receptacles, built for that purpose, in the ground right in front of them and uncovered their heads. Their faces shone with a new light.
“Now listen all!” Pythagoras drew their attention back to him. “The One (1) is not just a number but the creator of all numbers. It is the primordial harmony, the unbecoming, the unborn, the unmade, and the unformed. It is the Central Fire that diffuses in everything, and circulates through the circumference of existence.”
“By its High spiritual nature, it is not at all Hermaphrodite – male and female – as some have assumed! It is in fact the Monad, or the monas. It is the Intelligent Spirit that moves by itself; without being divided or manifested, being unique, eternal, and unchangeable. The One is the Universal Mind, or nous, which initially pervaded the Kosmos and summoned it out of chaos, by sounds and harmony, before guiding it into an order of Divine Origin.”
“The One epitomizes God, or Good, the Source of life, and the hidden Essence of everything that moves and changes through a harmonious measure of Intelligence. The One profiles the Unity Point that contains Infinity. It is the Absolute Creator whom I have called Father. His sign is Light and Fire; the Life Force and essence of the whole. I have dedicated the One to the Sun, to El-Apollo!”
“The Truth I tell you! The ultimate goal of Initiation, brothers and sisters, is to come closer to Him… to the Father,” the Philosopher, thus ended his explanation on the nature of the first principle. He glanced at them sitting wordless in awe in front of him.
Parmiseus of Metapontium uttered in a husky voice, “You have generously invited us to become like you, Master….” He hesitated for a second that reflected his need to clarify a matter.
With a gentle nod, Pythagoras encouraged him to proceed.
“With all respect, Master, I concede to the veracity of such a feat, since it is you who states it. I do not argue that,” Parmiseus advanced, with a frown of puzzlement, his tone deferential. “However, I wonder: how can we possibly come nearer to the One, to the Father?”
Pythagoras questioned in reply, “Has anyone seen the Master of Time and Space?”
A moment of silence echoed inside the crypt.
“No… and a thousand times no, of course! It is only by merging with Him that you could feel His essence. He is the Invisible Spirit; the Source of Intelligence that exists in the heart of the Macrocosm, and of the Microcosm that you are. Know that the personal spirit incarnated in each one of you, is like water, agitated by the deeds of the mundane world. You are required to sooth it down through the serenity achieved by meditation. Thus, you must purify it to make it clean and clear. Then and only then will you achieve the Great Unity, by simply harmonizing with Him.”
“Thence, God the Father will resuscitate in the depth of your conscious mind. Subsequently, you will participate with celestial grace in His great powers, and enter perfection to dominate matter by the sole command of your Intellect and will. Accordingly, and with faith in your heart, you will be active like Him.”
With that wonderful revelation, and in the total secrecy of their Assembly, the Mathemagician finished his session on the first number, the One. In accordance, he conveyed his new disciples into a serious state of reflection.
* * *
Some of the mathematikoi, who had previously entered the higher level of esoteric knowledge, excelled in exercising their minds through further contemplation of shapes and numbers. They penetrated the essence of the manifested reality. On the other hand, the newest mathematikoi spent their time meditating on the nature of the number One and its profound meaning.
Later, both Circles convened in the Assembly Hall as one family of brethren for their habitual common meal.
In the afternoon, the Inner Circle worked, in progressive measure, on the purification of their minds through the study of esoteric mathematics, revealed by the Master.
“Exercise in measure,” the Master repeated often, and they fully abided by his words.
When the stars appeared in bright dots in the deep blue sky of the night, the mathematikoi lay down to sleep in the common dormitory next to the homakoeion. The mystical sound of the lyre drifted to their ears and glided all over the place.
Sometimes, in order to relax and unwind all fatigue, conflicts, stresses, and anxieties of the day, Pythagoreans of the Inner Circle would chant spiritual songs, or express themselves in poetic verses. Songs and poetry, along with the sense of joy infused by the soft melody of the Lyre, would induce them into profound serenity.
The powerful effect of the music, which Pythagoras performed for them at night, gushed out in significant, mystical rhythms that penetrated with finesse into their deepest realms. It gently purified their minds, reinforced their intuitions, and awakened their psychic faculties, ultimately triggering pleasant and prophetic dreams.
In the concealed dimension above their dormant physical bodies, their astral forms floated in a free, subtle manner. They vibrated as fast as the speed of light. Feathery, weightless, the astral light traveled beyond time and space to cross the threshold of the deepest level of existence. It soared like the Phoenix over that very fine thread that linked the Microcosm with the Macrocosm.
“Sleep, dreams, and trances are the three most important keys to the world beyond; there, where the knowledge of the psyche and the art of divination are acquired,” Pythagoras would often declare.
They could feel him whispering softly in their ears.
His words would linger in their thoughts. With plaisance in their hearts, they would recite certain verses before surrendering to the silent night…
“Allow not sleep to close your eyes
Before three times reflecting on
Your actions of the day
What deeds done well, what not,
And what left undone?”
* * *
A spiritual melody of the Lyre roused up the mathematikoi from their sleep. The words of the Master imparted, “Music is that very power, which links Man with the Kosmos of the gods.”
Awakened by then, they intoned after him:
“As soon as I wake up,
In order I lay
The actions to be done
The coming day”
“Listen, brothers and sisters, your goal – that once was mine – is to heed the music of the gods, who are numbers. You can perceive it with your psyche but only when harmony – which is the most beautiful of all things – purifies it, and only when the power of music releases it.”
Perfectly fathomed, the words shepherded the mathematikoi through their morning preparation. At any rate, not only did Pythagoras enhance his enigmatic parables with music when addressing his people but he used it also, and mainly, for therapeutic healing.
A keen observer of the human mind, he strongly believed in the capability of musical rhythms and melodies to work as antidotes for psychic troubles. In fact, his musicology had revealed to him the therapeutic effect of certain tunes on the afflictions of the soul; those related to emotions and passions; like depression, lust, envy, pride, and rage too. Moreover, the experimentation of his own compositions on his ailing subjects had attested to their mathemagical healing powers on a variety of spiritual and physical disorders. They had proved to enhance humor and develop sensory conditions, resulting in significant psychological equilibrium.
* * *
The statue of Hestia-Isis, encircled by the nine Muses, loomed over the Master as he stood to confer his teachings. The Lover of Sophia resumed the Theology of Numbers from his hieros logos.
“When the One, or the Monad, decided to manifest itself, it became Two. That is the Dyad of indivisible essence, but of divisible substance. The One acted on the Dyad to produce the numbers. Therefore, the Dyad is not a number by itself, but rather, a two-pointed division, a confusion of unity, a line. It contains, on one side, the male-active principle which is Energy, and on the other side, the female-passive principle which is Matter.”
“Consequently, the Dyad represents the conflicting union of the will of the Eternal Male with the faith of the Eternal Female. These two essential divinities created the visible phenomenal world. They embody Adonis-Baal and Astarte for the Phoenicians; Osiris and Isis for the Egyptians; Bel and Ishtar for the Babylonians; Heaven and Hell for the Persians; and Shiva and Shakti for the Hindus. The Dyad is dedicated to the Moon, or Juno, which is the second luminary.”
After this insightful explanation, Pythagoras paused to examine the reaction of his disciples. Their minds seemed at work. He gave them time to absorb his introduction of the number 2.
When enlightenment showed by degrees on their features, he nodded in approval and then proceeded, “So, the Dyad generated the physical world known as the Tryad. The Tryad exists everywhere, being the first physical number. It is the psyche that I compare to a triangle. It, in fact, gives life to the Kosmos from its three atoms of Fire, Air, and Water.”
“As you have already learned, the Microcosm, or Man, is composed of three dimensions; the Body that means Strength, the Spirit that means Beauty, and the Mind representing Wisdom. Similarly, the Macrocosm, or the Universe, is composed of three spheres of existence: the Natural world, the Human world, and the Divine world.”
“I have dedicated the Tryad, the number Three (3), to Jupiter. It is a perfect number indeed, for it is the symbol of Truth manifested in the mind, Virtue in the spirit, and Purification in the body. The Phoenician tradition identifies this Trinity with Anat, Adonis and El, while the Egyptians associate it with Isis, Horus and Osiris. The Hindus, in turn, correlate it to Sarasvathi, Vishnu and Brahma.”
“The Tryad constitutes the key elements of life in the Kosmos. And this is a fact! Along with Creation, there is Evolution that passes by all the levels of life forms; from the mineral to the vegetable, to the animal, and finally, to the human.”
“However, here is a twist. The third element of the Tryad represents the mundane world of suffering. But why is it so? You may ask why, of course! Could anyone advance a suggestion?”
The question threw the disciples into confusion. Pythagoras did not expect them to know. He, himself, had strove through many years of quest and Initiation to attain that kind of knowledge. He nodded pensively at the thought, and gave them a cheering smile.
“I will tell you why, brothers and sisters. Your goal now is absolutely akin to mine when I first embarked on my spiritual journey. It is to revert back to your original state – to the primordial unity with the Monad – and that, by ending the material and instinctive evil elements within yourselves. When we, humans, entered the Tryad, we subsequently lost the vision of the Sublime Reality that is the One. As a result, we have remained stuck between the divine world that seeks to absorb us upwards in its perfection, and the natural animal-human world that pulls us downwards into the depths of the ground.”
“Verily I say unto you! Man resulted from the smart evolution of the animal. Divinity surged from the smart evolution of man. Thus, in order to attain that sublime state of holiness, you must break out from all the evil deeds of the dyad, or dualism. You can achieve it by uniting your three dimensions with your psyche, which is nothing more than your Individual Monad. When you accomplish that state of concordance, your Individual Monad will finally come to unity with the Great Monad.”
With this new revelation, the Master concluded another important session of his esoteric teachings.
The minds of the mathematikoi set to work, once again, on their individual contemplation of the Sacred Discourse of the Master. Weariness took over and they decided for a long respite in the garden of the temple to ease their mental strain and refresh their vigor.
Their thoughts blended with the fresh air as they absorbed the peaceful mood of nature around them. They wondered, inwardly, if they would be able to accomplish that harmony with the Monad, and regain their alleged lost vision. When, hours later, they headed to the cave, one common question escorted them inside. Would they ultimately evolve into a god-like state of perfection and power?
Determined and highly motivated, they convened, for weeks, in the secrecy of the cave for magical rituals. They utilized, accordingly, the power of the Tryad for their own sanctification and purification, which they performed with profound dedication.
* * *
Every Initiate of the ancient world had, at some time in his or her life, experienced a different method of Initiation. Yet all these great systems, and most importantly the ones of the Phoenicians and the Egyptians, encompassed relatively similar meanings, and identical understanding of the True Sophia.
These mystics had discovered, through Initiation, the basic and most essential elements of all the sciences in general. They had definitely grasped the law, which governs the existence of the various living forms, and their way of evolution. These sages had gravitated around, and inside, the Inner Circles; and rotated away from the profane world to come to recognize that the essence of all religions was the One Superior Reality: the Divine Hokmah!
A full moon reigned in the sky above. Its silver rays teased the game of the waves below, fighting against the shadows of the night. They bathed the couple that ambled on the beach. Their feet left their prints on the sand, side by side, yet not touching. The White City, on the hill above, loomed with majesty over the shore and witnessed, in silence, the peaceful walk and private conversation of the twosome. The Master and his beautiful disciple discussed life and the role of its Mysteries in their being together.
“I strongly believe that our encounter has not been the deed of coincidence, my dear,” the voice of Pythagoras floated melodiously with its statement through Theano, the ocean, and the air. “Believe me, it is rather, how shall I put it,” he paused for a while before continuing. “It is a static probability of the Divine Will; a necessity in the world order of the Number….”
Whatever personal matters they shared remained secret to their surroundings, for his voice became a declaration murmured to her ears, and Nature witnessed her smile of utter happiness.
Their promenade conveyed them to the Temple of Ceres-Astarte where the young mathematikoi gathered for the session of the nightfall. Poised and composed, Theano joined them while the Master took his stand to start his lecture. A stillness of anticipation prevailed, broken only by the sound of the waves pounding their rhythmical tempo on the high walls that held the terrace of the temple. He bent his head for a minute of reflection, in which he gathered his thoughts to focus on the lesson he was about to contribute. He then looked at them with a warm grin of greeting.
“Good evening, my friends.”
“Good evening, Master,” all the ten disciples replied almost in one voice.
“Tonight, I shall unveil the number Four, the Tetrad or Tetraktys. It symbolizes the Kosmic Creator embodied by the Logos; the hidden archetype of the universe. The number Four completes the process of Creation because it begins with the One – being the point of Fire – then moves to the Two that epitomizes the line of Water. At this point, the process shifts to the Three – being the surface of Air – to finally reach the Four that portrays the solidity of Earth.”
“The Tetraktys is, in reality, the true Sacred Decade, for the basic principles do exist in the first four numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4; the sum of which is equal to 10, which stands as the best number. Thus, I have arranged them for you in a way that forms a triangle with the One at the top, then the Two, the Three, and finally the Four at the bottom.”
“Here it is!” He unrolled a large papyrus to disclose the sketch of the triangle.
“The number (4) is the most important key in Nature. In fact, it is the Key-Keeper. Many important natural phenomena come in groups of four. The most significant one describes the four levels of existence, which are: Being, Living, Feeling and Realizing. Another major group of four forms Nature itself, and it comes in the four elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth.”
“Four is the Perfect Square of equality and regularity. It is the symbol of Moral Justice. It stands between the subject and the object in a horizontal direction. The vertical line describes the Divine Laws in a conscious and energetic method. Hence, all powers and vibrations of the physical and spiritual planes are engraved within the Perfect Square. And the name of Him, Alim, or Abba – the Logos – is equal to the sacred number Four. I therefore have dedicated it to the Sun!” The Grand Hierophant of Sophia proclaimed with finality.
Silence prevailed in their current state of awe. He anticipated a reaction from them. None came for as long as their eyes reflected their personal rumination on these vital teachings. With the confident patience of a true Master, he waited quietly for their eyes to lighten up in comprehension.
When they all did, one after another, he indicated his satisfaction with a smile. He invited them then to stand up and proclaim the most requisite and solemn oath of all times. And so, under the faint phosphorescent light of the celestial stars, and the infinite kingdom of the Most High, the mathematikoi swore in a unanimous voice:
“I swear by him who has transmitted to our minds
the Sacred Four, the Tetraktys, High and Pure,
the Root and Source of ever flowing Nature,
The Model of the gods.”
Their affidavit resounded all over the terrace of the Temple. It reached high above the hill, and inside the White City. It resonated with the waves of the Mediterranean Sea and the Ether of Space. To them, this sworn declaration constituted the supreme affirmation, for it determined, without a doubt, their religion and faith.
The soft breeze of the Divine Spirit entered their realms.
Calm was the night.
* * *
From behind the hill, early the next day, the sun soared up in radiance and warmth. The place of the meeting had changed for the new lesson. Inside the crypt of the Temple of Apollo this time, the mathematikoi gathered in a half circle. In front of them, the Master smiled to the Sun, and then at them.
“Good morning, my friends. Today, we proceed with my Theology of Numbers,” he announced at once. “The number Five (5), the Pentad, is in truth the most important and powerful number of them all. It stands in the middle of the number Ten. It is central in its position, a circular number that comprises five circumscribed circles. The Five, in fact, characterizes the return of everything. And by that I mean the return of the Psyche into itself, there where purification and knowledge abide to the Cycle of the Pentagon; A Great Cycle that rotates in harmony, and commands the movements of the Kosmos[40].”
“The Five is the symbol of the five atomic shapes that exist hidden in Nature. They consist of the Pyramid, the Cube, the Octahedron, the Icosahedron, and the Dodecahedron. These geometrical shapes represent, in a systematic and respective order, the five elements of Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and Ether. However, nothing is really pure of the existential matters, since Earth partakes in Fire, Fire in Air, Air in Water, and Water in Ether.”
“As we know, there exist, aside from the sun and the moon, five other spheres that float with affinity in the small visible space. Accordingly, five major zones divide our Sphere: the Earth. We have the north cold zone, the south cold zone, the summer zone, the winter zone, and finally, the equator zone.”
“The number Five is a merger. I have named it marriage for it contains a male-odd number, the Three, which is limited and determined, and a female-even number, the Two, which is unlimited and undetermined. The sum of these two numbers, 2 and 3, equals 5.”
“Now, here comes an important point,” Pythagoras took a step forward. He then looked at his ten disciples standing in a half-circular formation in front of him with great honor. “Heed me,” he uttered. “The esoteric and spiritual symbol of the number 5 is the five-pointed star. It is the Pentagram of our Great Society. It is, de facto, the sign on your chests denoting your official adherence to the first degree. In our secret language, it means death to reveal; a term that connotes the death and resurrection in our system of Initiation. Each line of our star intersects with another line in the proportions of macro to micro. Five, my friends, is dedicated to Hermes-Enoch, to Mercury!”
“It symbolizes, mainly, the Kosmic Man that is the Microcosm of the Macrocosm; the thinking and conscious man. Therefore, drawn on a Pentagon, Five epitomizes, in my perception of matters, harmony and health. In accordance, I have selected it to be the secret sign of our Fraternity!”
In a unanimous reaction, the disciples hailed their Master with enthusiasm. Hymns resounded in honor of the Fraternity to which they proudly belonged. Pythagoras let it be, happy with the general mood that lifted their spirits in glee.
Amidst their cheering, he marched to the entrance of the Temple and they followed him. He raised his hand to command their silence to which they abided at once. The mid-day carried to them the caress of the breeze and the sound of the waves. A solitary eagle glided high in the sky with its long broad wings spread out. It claimed, by such display, the magnificence of its flight. By his will and mathemagical supremacy, the Master summoned to him the predator. His hand in a fist, he extended his arm firmly. At once, the Eagle revolved on its circumnavigation, and vocalized a faint screech in response. To his disciples’ bewilderment, it scudded down in a plunge, directly towards them.
At the darting of the powerful raptor, they swiftly stepped back in an instinct of survival. They exclaimed in rapture as the Golden Eagle slowed down to land smoothly, like a messenger of God, on the arm of their equable Master. Pythagoras caressed it gently. He then whispered some mystical words close to its small head that bent to heed the message of the Master. When he looked into its golden eyes with a smile of complicity, the Eagle responded with a repeated screech. The Master then raised his arm and commanded it to freedom. The subdued predator fluttered his wings widely, lifted in the air, and took off to its realm, high above in the sky.
In the days that followed, the mathematikoi performed several religious and magical ceremonies inside the Pythagorean sanctuaries. They employed the power of the Number Five, drawn inside a circle, to beckon the good daemons. In a similar manner, they would often exorcise the bad ones; those non-human disembodied souls from around them to impede their many disturbing interventions in their lives.
* * *
Vibrations of excitement swelled up inside the crypt of the Temple of Apollo where the members of the inner Circle convened. On his stand, in front of them, the Master readied to reveal the next teachings of his hieros logos.
“Good morning to all of you, dear brothers and sisters,” he greeted them.
The usual kindness in his voice blended with a tone of authority that only great Masters like him knew how to employ with effective tact.
“Today, we move up to the Hexad, the number Six (6). It is the primary perfect circular number. It is the regular figure for marriage. Why? You must wonder,” he tempted with a smile, then, lifting a sketch to their attention, he explained, “Look at these figures. Six is the Union between the male and the female. The male has for sign a downward triangle in the following shape (▼). The female is represented by an opposite triangle in this upward shape (▲). Together, they form the six-pointed star[41].”
“In concordance, the triple spirit descending from Heaven (▼) interweaves with the triple receiving matter of Earth (▲). The Six is sacred to the goddess Astarte, known also as Aphrodite. It is Venus which, as we know, is the morning and the evening star. For that reason, the holy day of Venus is Friday; the sixth day of the week.”
“Now, Six is also an important number for it represents the six levels of natural life. The first level encompasses the seed and starts from the bottom. The second level takes in the plant life. The third comprises the animal life and the fourth the human life. The fifth is the angelic life, which profiles the mediators between men and gods. And finally, the last and sublime echelon at the top of this hierarchy is the godhood life.”
“Listen and listen well! Six cubed (6×6×6) is equal to two hundred sixteen (216). In truth, it represents a very mystical number, for it is a generator principle of the spirit! It repeats itself by its spherical structure that produces an eternal recurrence of approximately the same events in both the spiritual and physical worlds. Matter is not at all infinite in the Kosmos! Know thyself! So, in fact, every two hundred sixteen years, the spirit of man travels around the Circle of Necessity in order to incarnate a new and different body. The Truth I tell you! That Cycle of Reincarnation commands the state of being of every mortal!”
This outstanding conclusion ended his discourse. Without further comment, he reached for his Lyre, and settled on his chair to play a sacred tune while his disciples were absorbed in due reflection. His voice soon drifted soothingly as he chanted the Homeric verses VII, 5-60 from the Iliad to illustrate the reality of Reincarnation.
The song related the death of Euphorbus, one of the previous Avatars – or lives – of Pythagoras himself! A brave warrior, Euphorbus had fought and perished in the Trojan War.
The Master intoned beautifully:
“He fell, thunderously, and his armor clattered upon him
and his hair, lovely as the Graces, was splattered with blood, those braided locks caught waspwise in gold and silver.
As some slip of an olive tree, strong-growing, that a man raised in a lonely place, and drenched it with generous water, so that it blossoms into beauty, and the blasts of winds from all quarters tremble it, and it bursts into pale blossoming.
But then a wind suddenly in a great tempest descending upon it wrenches it out of its sand and lays it at length on the ground; such was Euphorbus of the strong ash spear, the son of Panthoos, whom Menalaus Atreides killed, and was stripping his armor.”
When Pythagoras ended chanting the death of his own prior existence, Myllias of Crotona, one of the exceptional mathematikoi in the group, argued in doubts at the reality of reincarnation.
Pythagoras looked at him sternly and declared patiently, “Verily I say unto you, brother Myllias, that in your previous life, you were a King, and not just an ordinary King, but the legendary Phrygian King Midas.”
Myllias gawked at him for a moment of wordless astonishment then managed to exclaim in a faint voice, “A King! A legendary King… me?”
“Yes!” Pythagoras did not soften the look he pierced Myllias with. “And honestly speaking, I strongly urge you to take that long trip to Asia one day soon, and perform the expiatory rituals at your previous tomb!”
Wordless, indeed, Myllias remained all day. He tried to deal with the shock of such an astounding revelation. He wondered painfully what great sins he had committed in his former life that required from him a due expiation!
That same day, the disciples came to know that their Master considered of essential that his disciples understood the great law of reincarnation. At their queries, he revealed four of his Avatars. As he declared, he had lived as Aithalides, the son of Hermes; then Euphorbus, the Trojan hero. He had incarnated, as well, as Hermotimus[42], and finally as Pyrrhus, a fisherman from Delos.”
Fascinated and excited, the disciples asked him if he could see into their spirits and tell them of their former lives. To the delight of some, and the consternation of others, he did. In fact, considering the time appropriate to teach them the secret process of Anamnesis, he caused many to recollect the memory of their previous incarnations!
* * *
Walking together on the beautiful sandy shore at eventide became a pleasant habit for Pythagoras and Theano. They both enjoyed these private moments in which they shared their past, present, and potential future. They delighted in knowing about each other on a more personal level. When Pythagoras deepened his conversation with her on the nature of the number Six, he certainly meant to prepare the ground for the realization of his aspiration, and ultimately, the last wish of his late mother. The prospect of marriage between them materialized, in fact, in her mind the way he saw it; the perfect alliance of the manifested natural life. As she rejoiced in the thought, their conversation dragged, until dusk caught them, still together, on the shore.
When the first pink tinted the horizon, he uttered, “Time for the lesson, dear,” he reminded her with a tender smile. “The others might be waiting for me at the Temple.”
She smiled back at him, and the adoration in her green eyes touched him deeply. He hastened his steps towards the Temple of Ceres-Astarte, and she matched his eagerness with an energy that pleased him. On the terrace of the temple, she joined the other nine disciples with a simple look of respect towards him, and he appreciated her tactful attitude. Taking his stand in front of them, he focused at once on his teachings.
“Good evening to all of you, brothers and sisters. Today, before the sun completely disappears in the horizon, you will have learned the value and meaning of the numbers Seven (7) and Eight (8).”
“Seven is the perfect number of life and its ideal vehicle. In truth, it combines the three higher elements of the spirit with the three lower elements of the body. The fourth level, or shall I say, the middle one, is the mind. As such, it shows the great relationship that exists between Man and the Divine Monad. It represents the active mind, the godhead.”
“The Heptad, Seven, is associated with the seven heavenly bodies that form the Music of the Spheres. These heavenly entities are also related to the seven days of the week. This association is best described as follows: Moon for Monday, Mars for Tuesday, Mercury for Wednesday, Jupiter for Thursday, Venus for Friday, Saturn for Saturday, and finally, the Sun for Sunday!”
“Listen now and listen well, for the Truth I tell you! The manifested universe is also a constituent of seven, and so is the microcosm, or man, who is organized into the seven levels of evolution. These levels start at the bottom with the physical body. The sidereal body ensues at the second level and the desire body at the third. The fourth level, being the Mind, is the stage of equilibrium, as I mentioned before. The fifth corresponds to the human spirit and the sixth to the vivid spirit. The seventh level betokens the divine spirit.”
“You should know by heart that the symbol of seven is the Seven-Pillared Temple. It means the Initiate. It is Sophia, and for that reason, I have dedicated this number to Jupiter.”
Pythagoras waited for the questions that usually came up after his lecture, when none ensued after a few minutes; he decided to move on to the next number.
“Fine! Since there are no questions, which means all is well understood, let’s move on to the number Eight (8)!” He proposed with a grin of approval. “Know, my friends, that Eight, in fact, is the Octad; the first actual cube. Its relationship with the Kosmic harmony allows a perfect balance that regulates everything in the universe. Hence, know that two cubed is eight, and 2+2+2+2 equals 8. It is also the source of all the musical ratios, and it is greatly associated with the Music of the Spheres. For that reason, I have called it the Embracer of Harmonies, or Harmonia, after the name given to the wife of Kadmus who was one of the Kabirim of Phoenicia.”
“Eight, my friends, is also related to the principles of safety and steadfastness. It is the symbol of lasting friendship and of Love too! Because those emotional relationships have a healing effect, Eight can symbolize medicine and health, as well. Thus, I have assigned this number to Eshmun, the Phoenician god of medicine and dedicated it to the Air element.”
“In conclusion, my final concept on this number is that Eight represents the balance that adjusts the combination of the three subjective aspects, and the five objective facets of the human consciousness.”
His discourse for the night ended with this statement and, as usual, he took his Lyre to play some music while his disciples were immersed in their meditation.
* * *
Inside the crypt of the Temple of the Muses, the next morning, the Mathemagician continued where he had stopped the night before.
“The number Nine (9), the Ennead, is the Number of Justice par excellence. Its square root is three, 3×3 equals 9, and 3+3+3 equals 9. It is called Horizon, or Oceanus, because it represents the crossing line between many important sequences. For example, it is the passage between the Number Ten, and the other numbers that led to it. With the Nine, which represents the spiritual number of our Mother Earth, the perfect nine months of gestation are completed for birth.”
“Nine is also the number of the Muses, the nine sister-goddesses of harmony, arts, and sciences. On the other hand, it relates particularly to Terpsichore – the Muse of movement and dance. Nine embodies a powerful sacred number, for it is composed of the nine aspects of the Divine Energy, best described as follows:
Heavenly three: Father, Mother, and Son.
Humanly three: Mind, Matter, and Spirit.
Elementally three: Fire, Water, and Air.
“To you, my friends, I should certainly reveal that I tried three times – nine days each, in twenty seven phases – until I successfully completed the process of self-purification. Subsequently, I’ve attained a high spiritual perfection,” he avowed as a statement to the power of this number.
He then granted to himself some time for recollection, and to his disciples, moments of reflection.
Quietness waned when he opened up for questions. The debate that ensued dragged on for an hour. Due to the weariness that showed on some of his disciples’ faces, he dismissed them with his insistence that they take a long break in the garden. He set a time at night to resume his teachings. Some showed reluctance but abided in consideration to the others who welcomed the rest.
When they came back at night, refreshed and smiling, Pythagoras was ready for them.
“Let’s discuss the number Ten (10), the Dechada, which is the greatest number of all!” he started as soon as they resumed their places around him in a semi-circle. “Ten, my friends, is the perfect Number par excellence, for when we reach it, we simply revert back to the One! And thus, the process of Creation will repeat itself ad infinitum. In that regard, Ten is related to human fate, and I have dedicated it to the World and the Sun!”
“The Truth I tell you! It is not a coincidence that you are the 10 chosen disciples to enter the Inner Circle at this round. It is also not a coincidence that the power of the Number Ten is so faultless, for it is the vessel that holds all things through a single form and power. It shapes the Cycle of Necessity, planned, as such, by the Divine Will. It also represents all the Divine Principles that evolve and rejoin in a new Unitas. Ten is the ensemble of the Absolute Truth. It is Heaven!”
“Listen to this once again – the numbers: One plus Two plus Three plus Four equals Ten. These numbers, joined together in this way, compose the Sacred Decade of the gods. These are the gods that hold the Kosmos together, as well as all the manifested laws of Mother Nature.”
Pythagoras paused for a minute. His power radiated upon his disciples. Their stances reflected impeccable attention and enthusiasm.
“Let me conclude the Theology of Numbers by imparting that Numbers are not a creation of the human mind, but rather, a mystical existence of its own. They reside outside the intellect of man, or of any living form. As you have undoubtedly realized by now, there exists a certain hidden mystery in the Numbers. In fact, it is not by coincidence that the One created the Numbers, but by Divine Reason and Logic.”
He then halted to stare at them, one by one.
“Numbers, my friends, absorb – to a great extent – from their origin: the Great Monad, the reality of all things. Hence, if you want to discern the properties of Numbers, you must meditate upon their meanings. You will definitely commune with them. They are gods!”
“Know that it is not-at-all easy to understand that concept. But if you achieve it, believe me, dear brothers and sisters, you will then become yourselves. You will utterly become what you are in reality: gods!” He concluded, with finality and smiled encouragingly.
An imposing stillness prevailed over space and time.
Silent was the night…
Cosmology and Theology of the Psyche
Kylon knew her to be one of those fervent Pythagorean partisans. He stepped forward, and ogled down at her to intimidate her, and subdue her into silence.
She looked at him squarely in the eyes in defiance, and stated out loud, “Master Pythagoras worships God Apollo with vehemence! He venerates Him as a Father. Many of us can attest to that fact! He lives as the Son of Light, so how can he possibly be the son of darkness? You immoral liar!”
To Kylon’s great displeasure, shouts and cheers of approval responded to her.
“Woman, be quiet!” he snapped at her, attempting to regain control of the situation.
She retorted, adamantly, “No, you listen! Are you really… really talking about the Pythagoreans?” then looking around her, she pointed an accusing finger on him and yelled, “This man is insane!”
A general laughter shook the audience.
She turned on him then and snapped, “You don’t really mean the Pythagoreans, right? Because if so, you just have to look at them to know, like we all do, that they are not what you claim! They live in perfect harmony with nature, and in perfect friendship with each other. They are a genuine and perfect Fraternity of love and peace! Have you seen the white purity of their clothes? This is what, and who, they are! Pure and clean!”
Stillness besieged Kylon at the patent reality of her argument. He quickly rummaged his mind for something valuable to retort with.
“Fellow citizens, this woman might be right about the appearance, but that is only the outer shell of what they really are! Heed the one who has witnessed the truth of their deception! I, as well, deemed Pythagoras pure and clean, and genuine. That’s why I joined his fraternity some months ago. He was my ideal! I even left everything behind, all my wealth, my easy life, my family, and my home, in order to be one of them. Yes, fellow citizens, I did! I even succeeded at all their tests, and they welcomed me in their Assembly Hall!” He lied shamelessly. It stimulated him to observe the sudden meditative interest such a statement got him. He rubbed his jaw and continued, “then, I came to watch their deceitful claim…,” his voice broke as if honestly disappointed. “Oh, how shocked I was when I realized that this Assembly Hall was naught but a den of demons. Everything was just the iniquitous façade of a clever trick! A hoax fabricated, not only against the God Apollo, but also against all the good, trustful people of Crotona!”
Kylon paused to give time to his proclamation to sink deeply into their minds.
“The truth I tell you, my fellow citizens, all the works of Pythagoras, and his alleged Masters, are never performed openly, but only inside the underground crypt. Why my friends? Why! Ask yourselves why?! Haven’t you ever wondered?”
No one answered. He noticed the frowns, in secret delight. Almost everybody there appeared engrossed in their thoughts.
He pressured further, reiterating the same notion but worded differently. “Do you really think that this is a Fraternity of love and peace that live in perfect harmony with nature? Know this: that their white clothes are meant to reflect a good, angelic image with the wicked purpose of hiding their true dark selves. That is in fact a perfect disguise! Ask me, I have been there. I saw the plain truth!”
A hot debate eventuated. His followers applauded. Some others expressed their admiration of his leadership. Others, however, protested fiercely, revealing their faith in Pythagoras, and their affection to the Pythagoreans.
“This is absurd … total nonsense!” Someone countered him in strident revulsion.
Many echoed his reaction with the same intensity.
“You are completely wrong, Kylon!”
“You are changing the facts to mislead us!”
A woman darted forward and screamed in the chaos, “Kylon! May the God Apollo punish your wickedness severely! We are not blind as you presume!” At that, she climbed on the platform and addressed the gathering with a strong voice of authority. “My friends! Let me remind you, and refresh your memory. Pythagoras consecrated his marriage with Theano in the Temple of Apollo! What does that mean to all of you here?”
Most people in the crowd approved high and loud. Their cold eyes now on Kylon demanded from him a factual reply that might overthrow the strong statement put forth by the woman, or so he thought.
Unable to deny it, he went speechless. He had failed to alter the facts. For now! He fumed inwardly.
The bold woman thundered down the steps, off the stage, cursing Kylon and his club. In a frenzy, she forced her way through the crowd. Some followed her at once, others looked intently at him in wait for a rejoinder. His stillness lingered, and the plaza emptied gradually; too fast for his taste. Only his members stayed to pierce him with sharp glances of disappointment. Humiliated, once again, because of the Pythagorean Fraternity, he lost his temper. He reaped further abhorrence against Pythagoras. He seethed and raged hysterically, right there on the stage of his defeat. His insults erupted stridently. Yet, only his members witnessed this abject discharge.
Such a disastrous failure, though, did not undermine his determination to destroy the Pythagoreans, on the contrary. The Aristocratic Lobby soon summoned its most powerful members for an urgent, and top-secret meeting, in their headquarters. There, in their underground Lobby Hall, at the heart of the city of Crotona, they plotted clandestinely against the Fraternity.
The primary purpose of the summit was to analyze the reason for their recent fiasco. They concluded, almost unanimously, that to taint the religious image of Pythagoras, in a public place, would result catastrophic. Someone suggested exploiting the strong weapon their own wealth posed, instead. Eyes brightened and smirks evolved at the notion. Soon a demented frenzy ensnared them as they developed a scheme to best fit their aim.
In the days that followed, they invested big amounts of money in buying, discreetly, the loyalty of many poor, and not so poor, Crotoniates. When money would not work, they would offer jobs, or promises of better careers. The Lobby would write their names on a waiting list. They used the phony pledges as a successful tool to gain their allegiance. The result exceeded even their wildest expectations, and their methodic plan!
Due to the masses of people that enrolled, based on interest, the Lobby opened several branches around the city for Kylon to hold his secret meetings with the new adherents. He met them all, group by group. He worked on manipulating their minds. He convinced them that Pythagoras focused mainly on distracting the young generation away from the gods of Greece by converting them to his way of life.
“Pythagoras is a true Charlatan, a real Demon in disguise. He will steal everything you own, and all that you live for,” he often stated, and they accepted the lie as true.
The number of new members increased by the day. Public debates continued. However, to his displeasure, very few would join the newly adhered poor souls in applauding his public speeches. He strove for a grand crowd and for the interest of the major entities that did not come. Yet, he would not give up easily. He summoned the most influential and prominent members to the biggest clandestine summit ever organized by the Lobby. They assessed the previous debates, and emended their decisions in order to proceed further.
“There are always some new citizens who believe my words every time I address the public,” Kylon affirmed with arrogance. “Our emergent list attests to that fact. Isn’t that right, gentlemen?”
They grinned with heinous satisfaction, and nodded in agreement.
“However, I have decided not to assail, or even mention again, in public, the alleged holy image of Pythagoras. I shall instead speak of something else, something even more credible than that, something that will leave a great impact on the mind of Crotona. And I promise you, gentlemen, that, at our next meeting here, we will be counting the new adherents by the hundreds!”
They all cheered to that. With a renewed eagerness, they poured their immoral astuteness into their plan. They studied and elaborated the new plot that Kylon and his dangerous assistant, Ninon, had churned out. They decided then on a date for another public debate to which they would invite more and more people.
“This will be it, gentlemen,” Ninon exclaimed with stout confidence. “I can feel our victory already!”
A general applause responded, followed closely by fists pounding rhythmically on the conference table, and feet on the floor. The cadency accelerated into an archaic clamor for war. The walls vibrated. Excitement heightened in intensity.
Kylon could have sworn he saw the demons in the red sparkles of their immobile eyes. He raised both hands to command their silence.
“Aside from the impact of my influential and credible oratory,” his voice blasted with self-importance, “the large number of fellows, whose loyalty we have purchased, will be a great asset for us in the crowd. Their loud cheering and continuous applauses on my next speech will certainly affect the others!”
He certainly had it all planned out in his impious mind. Whether he would succeed in winning over the whole crowd, or not, in his next public appearance, he would still raise major doubts on Pythagoras’ views and on his Society. Damages would be deep and permanent, he swore inwardly.
* * *
Less than a month later, Kylon and his Lobby watched, with great satisfaction, as the plaza filled with people of all ages and classes. Soon, the place could not encompass all the attendees, be it adepts or just curious people. Women stood at their windows, youngsters climbed on the roofs, men jammed the area, and some even sat at the edge of the platform to avoid getting stampeded. Kylon considered with excitement the hard work of his Lobby in the past weeks. Actually, they had done a better job than expected. The sight infused more arrogance in his heart. Never had he seen such a huge crowd, and they came to listen to him!
Ninon leaned to whisper in his ear, “I believe you will never get another chance like this, Kylon. It is now or never….”
“Are you implying, Ninon, that we go for plan B?” He taunted, without turning his eyes off the growing crowd.
“Absolutely!” Ninon exclaimed in a murmur.
“So, be it! You will handle the Lobby then.”
“Don’t worry. I have them under control.”
They exchanged a quick look of complicity. Ninon nodded discreetly and, with unconcealed pride, Kylon marched firmly to his spot on the stage to deliver what he reckoned to be his last and hopefully fatal attack on the Pythagorean Fraternity.
He smiled widely at the crowd. There is no place for error this time, he thought to himself.
“Citizens of Crotona, thank you all for coming. As some of you already know, I am here to talk about Pythagoras and his Society. For the newcomers, I must say that I still believe that the man, Pythagoras, is way more dangerous than you could ever imagine. Yes, my friends! He is in fact a tyrant with an occult power. Why? You might wonder! Well, my fellow citizens, let me call your attention to the obvious fact that he deems himself of a divine race, while he considers you but a herd of sheep to be led and commanded!”
He ignored the gasps of astonishment, and the incredulous looks of his own Lobby. With this unexpected introduction, he had broken his pledge to them to change his previous tactic, thus sparing the holy image of Pythagoras. True, he had promised them something totally different, more plausible, and more effective. Yet, he and his right-hand man, Ninon, knew best how to crash the enemy, Pythagoras!
“How is that?” a female voice from the audience asked in doubts.
“Well, you people don’t have a say in the politics of Crotona, right? You do know that the authorities set the rules, but what you don’t know is that they consult with Pythagoras on when, and how, or if, the rules should be implemented. What does that mean to you? It simply means that Pythagoras is in fact the one who rules our city! It means that he has crowned himself the God-King of Crotona!”
His powerful proclamation impelled the shouts and yells of his members, as well as of the mass of his followers among the crowd. Curses spurted against Pythagoras and his White City. Faces twisted in hatred against the alleged god. As for the Lobby, they reacted with mischievous smirks. They seemed to consider the way in which he had worded his speech to be very interesting and cunning.
“Hold on there, people of Crotona!” A strong male voice shouted with such authority that it subdued the roar of the people.
Kylon glared at the direction of the warning that had interrupted the emergent rage he wanted so much. From among the multitude, the caller, a notorious politician, darted towards him. In a flash, he climbed the few steps, reached Kylon, stood face to face with him, and stared, fiercely into his eyes. Kylon held his breath and froze in astonishment.
The politician veered to the audience. “My fellow citizens!” his voice thundered. “You can’t possibly believe what this man claims! Pythagoras is a blessing to our city! Pythagoras has envisioned our matters rightfully and fairly. Remember the war! Remember Telys, the tyrant! We would have all turned into ashes if Pythagoras had not interfered. How could you forget the key role he played in making us win the war? It was his great wisdom and his effectual support that overthrew the fierce and unbeatable army of Sybaris! Thanks to him and only him, Sybaris has become part of the State of Crotona. Isn’t that a huge victory he has granted us, and our posterity, with his acumen and integrity? How could you forget it? Shame on you! Yes, shame on you! Ungrateful citizens! We owe the saint man our safety and security. We owe him our new wealth and work opportunities. We owe him the peace that this Kylon and his club are trying to shatter and disgrace!”
Stillness fell on the plaza at the accuracy of the facts. Many nodded in agreement, his rational historical input accepted as true. Even Kylon agreed inwardly, yet he could not afford another public disaster, especially not this time! He pondered quickly on how to turn the tables on the authorities as well.
He sneered in the secret recesses of his mind. “Yeah, right!” he spat out in a bitter tone. “We won the war. But tell me, fellow politician, how has the government rewarded the people for risking their lives in the battles? Tell the citizens here what you have really done to compensate the families for the loss of their martyrs” he shouted with a rage that echoed like a thunderbolt.
The politician blushed then went pallid.
“No reply? Of course, you can’t answer this,” Kylon snickered then veered to address the crowd with a thunderous voice, “because I tell you, citizens of Crotona, nothing has been given to you in exchange. Nothing!”
Mesmerized by his counterwords, the audience gaped at him, as if paralyzed by his wrath. Having grabbed back all their attention, he decided to strike fast and hard, for he knew he had successfully touched a painful nerve in them.
“The lands, my friends!” he yelled to their consideration. “All the new lands and properties, acquired from that war, have been divided between the political body and the Pythagoreans! Know that they worship each other as gods, and regard all of us here as brutes!”
“That is not true!” Someone retorted from the back of the crowd, probably a friend of the Pythagoreans. “Liar! Imposter! That’s not true at all!”
Before he could add another word, a lobbyist knocked him down with a blow to the back of his head. Rendered silent and unconscious, he was immediately dragged out of the plaza, and thrown in an alley.
Kylon smirked with wicked pleasure. Adamant in his hate, he delivered to his audience, “You pathetic citizens! How could you have let them fool you for so long? Tell me, please, how can you still trust them, even now? Come now, open your eyes! Look at the facts! This has been naught but an immense conspiracy against you, innocent citizens; pure exploitation, fabricated by Pythagoras and his followers in alliance with the political body!”
Fury stormed through the mass akin to an unruly tsunami. Like vampires thirsty for human blood, members of the Lobby and the growing group of Kylon’s followers gathered there, in the plaza, unleashed their rage first, to be followed then by the crowd; the greater part of it.
“Death to Pythagoras!”
“Death to his Society!”
“Kill the fraud!”
“Annihilate the Fraternity!”
Ugly condemnations roared and barked in all directions. The crowd went wild, their anger feral, and the plaza boisterous.
Chaos and ruckus reigned.
All those friends and followers of the Pythagoreans scurried away, running for their lives.
Kylon bellowed, “Wake up from the spell cast upon you by that dark sorcerer! Walk by me now, and you will never regret it! You shall never feel betrayed, never again! Your social and political rights will be granted to you in full. Walk by me, citizens of Crotona, and every coin that you lost will be returned to you! Trust me! Walk by me… Walk by me!” he kept repeating in a metrical litany.
Excited, the multitude pounded the floor with their feet and shouted, “Kylon! Kylon! Kylon!”
It took him some time to command their rowdiness into some semblance of quiet order. He fathomed in ecstasy the dangerous state into which he had driven them, yet, he still strove to fuel them even more.
“Listen to me! Let us judge them without a hearing! Yes! The same way in which they have condemned us! Together, let us persecute the swindler who has corrupted our youth; that impostor who has robbed them of their souls, and away from the gods of Greece!” his voice blasted, his body launched forward with his fist up. “We must strike… and strike powerfully!”
“Death to Pythagoras!
“Burn the White City!
“Kill the impostor!
They roared over and over again until foam spit out from their mouths like mad dogs, ready to attack, and tear at human flesh. Like automatons, they lurked in wait of orders.
Kylon and his Lobby relished in the luscious taste of their remarkable triumph. They shared, with a grin, the rotten evilness of their hearts.
And so it cropped up. The Lobby vowed to launch a strong attack on the White City upon devising a well-organized plan that could annihilate the Pythagoreans to the very last one. They had sworn to do that.
That night, alone in his bedroom, Kylon stood in front of his polished bronze mirror, dreaming of glory and fame. His eyes shone with the red color of wrath. His reflection embodied the very personification of evil; a man thirsty for blood and destruction. Somehow, that image of himself fascinated and excited him. He laughed out loud. And, for a while, the sound reverberated in the silence of the creepy darkness.
* * *
Those who had witnessed the uproar, and feared for their relatives and friends, scuttled to the White City. In panic, they asked to see Master Pythagoras. Their hysterical requests urged the Masters to rush them in, at once.
In growing angst, he heeded their frantic reports. He had barely had time to urge them back to their safe dwellings, when the Maters darted in with some more feverish visitors: his few, close politician friends. They reported the same tale without contradictions. Pythagoras took the threat on his people very seriously.
His eyes probed the anxious politicians in front of him. “When?” His tone betrayed his internal torment.
“We don’t know! They did not divulge it!” The man who spoke kept twisting the cord of his belt in edginess.
Pythagoras turned to the older official who rushed to say, “We were tipped, on our way here. Kylon and his rabble are now in the pre-final stage of preparation.” His nervous tic twisted his right eye again and again. His hands quivered on his cane.
The younger politician halted his fretful pacing at last to press on him, “Master Pythagoras! It is just a matter of time!”
Pythagoras walked to his window. He gazed at Crotona for a long while, then observed the horizon for any sign that might belie his presage.
“What about the Senate?” he finally asked in a murmur. There was no reply, he turned to probe the politicians with a commanding voice. “With whom are they siding? Do I have their loyalty? It is crucial for me to know immediately. Will they help us defend our White City?”
The important question met with total silence. Their eyes reflected their deep sorrow and anguish. They shook their heads in shameful negation.
“We cannot speak on behalf of the Senate, nor in favor of all our fellow politicians, but we, the eleven of us, are here to stay with you until the end, if you want us to,” the older politician offered with emotion.
Pythagoras nodded.
Time stood still while he struggled, in the secret of his heart, to cope with the deep pain of abandonment and betrayal. The precarious outcome of such a crisis tortured him. He had always refused to acknowledge the vision of the imminent destruction his spirit had revealed to him.
Beware the envious souls…
Pherecydes had often cautioned him against their dangerous deeds. He had even warned him about it in his deathbed. Had his uncle foreseen, as well, the brutal end of the White City, or was it his nephew that he meant? Whatever his message, time proved him more than just a wise man.
He was a prophet with foresight!
Pythagoras deduced, with respect, then reverted to the problematic condition that had entrapped him. Dismissing the eleven politicians to safety, he summoned all the members of the White Society for an urgent Assembly. At the time, the Outer Circle counted two thousands members, and the Inner Circle, six hundred. In a state of apprehension, they assembled on the wide terrace of the Temple of Al-Apollo.
Pythagoras emerged in all his glory, his long white linen tunic draped with his purple robe over his shoulder. His mathematikoi stood at his sides and his akousmatikoi just behind them. He stared at his devout people for a long painful minute before he uttered.
“Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for coming on such short notice. As most of you probably know by now, this is a matter of extreme emergency. Heed and behold my words. The time has come indeed, and the waiting has ended.”
The sorrow of his heart reflected in his voice, and rendered his bizarre statement incomprehensible to them. He could read their fretfulness and confusion in their eyes. He sighed deeply and decided to enlighten them with the blunt truth with no further delay.
“My friends, evil is about to heave its vengeance and odium upon our White City. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to impede the imminent fury. Nothing…,” his voice broke in profound sadness.
Gasps ensued, eyes widened in shock then fear and murmurs wafted like a brisk wave that prompted to turn into cries and wails.
“Please!” Pythagoras urged them. “Do not panic! Let us remain composed to plan for our safety! I urge utmost discipline and self-control. Let us face our predicament with wisdom and clarity.”
He continued talking to them in a soothing, even tone that meant to assuage their fears and impose some sense of order. When he felt them ready to heed him, he raised his voice to announce, “Everybody is free to leave the White City, and seek shelter somewhere else,” he declared. “No one, I repeat, no one should assume, in any way, that he, or she, should stay any longer. I just ask you to uproot and spread around the neighboring cities. I also urge the akousmatikoi among you to depart at once for the sake of their families,” he pressed on them in spite of the raucous refusal of many.
He raised his hand to command their silent attention. “Listen to me! There is something you should know! As you spread around, you might fail to identify a fellow member of our Fraternity. We can’t allow such an outcome, not when we have shared so many years together. You should keep in contact with each other. I will reveal to you now our secret handshake so you will be able to distinguish each other outside the White City. Use it when greeting each other from now on. Remember, you are all brothers and sisters of our Great Fraternity, and whatever the separation, you owe support to each other!”
At that, he murmured a brief order to his Masters at his sides. They stepped forward from among the Outer Circle. From one to another, they communicated the secret sign of the Fraternity. In turn, the members were prompted to practice among themselves. The Inner Circle already knew it and had been using it for a while now.
“What are you going to do, Master?” a woman previously cured by Pythagoras asked him with tears in her eyes.
“Fair lady, your care surely touches me,” he replied with sincerity. “The Truth I tell you! I shall never abandon you, or this great White City. I will not turn my back on all the love and peace that have infused its sky all these years! No, and a thousand times no! This is what I have lived for, and this is what I shall die for,” the Mathemagician claimed his allegiance with a voice full of emotion, and a tone strong with certainty.
“Master!” A mathematikoi exclaimed in fearful protest.
“My decision is irrevocable, brother!” Pythagoras asserted firmly.
“Then, if this is your decision, we shall stay with you until the end!” A young mathematikoi affirmed his allegiance and loyalty.
“We shall die with you!” An akousmatikoi acclaimed high and loud.
Many echoed then waited for his orders.
In truth, the silence that ensued pierced a hole in the sky above, and reverberated deep down in the land below.
“No… and a thousand times no!” Pythagoras shouted at last. “You, all of you, must leave for good. You must not die now, but live instead in safety, away from here. The essence of friendship, morality, and loyalty is deeply rooted within you. Your mission now requires that you relegate it to the generations after you. This is my last recommendation to you! Heed it as sacred and apply it as such,” he ordered. “My beloved friends beware the growing ominous danger. Leave in peace, and do it immediately!”
Suddenly tired, the Master sought by himself the Temple of the One for meditation and solace.
* * *
Early one autumn afternoon, almost a month later, Pythagoras, alone with his thoughts, meandered through the Sacred Garden of his cave. The leaves of his Cedar trees and Oak trees had turned from the orange color of maturity to the blackish yellow one of death. At that moment, they made their final way to the ground, stating their smooth decline, one after the other. The wind blew swiftly, and scattered them through the beautiful garden and beyond it. Pythagoras observed that significant motion of life before he resumed his walk at an even slower pace. His feet felt heavier, and his shoulders laden. Slothful and listless, as if almost defeated, he realized that the end of his present life had finally come.
He already grieved the departure of most of his people. He knew that at this very moment, the remaining families of his Outer Circle were about to leave. In spite of his disapproval, a few of them had chosen to stay, like the mathematikoi. That decision of theirs worried him deeply. Yet, he could not force them to run for their lives and into safety. Even at this stage, he still conformed to the free-will and democracy ideal he had applied and implemented in his own city. He had hoped that with the days following the warning, they would come to change their minds. Yet, they kept going on with their daily-lives, almost normally, regardless of the state of maximum alert.
Pythagoras turned to the sea. In a flash of memories, he recalled his very first trip with his father, then the several others that had journeyed him towards his destiny. He smiled faintly. At this moment in which the sun glowed with wonderful titian hues before setting for the night, he recalled the tale of the Phoenician man seeking the end of the world, there where the sun touched the sea, like it did now. Yet today something was different. Pythagoras perceived it in the way the Mediterranean Sea swallowed the sun into its very depth.
It was the year 500 BCE.
A sudden gloom befell the White City. He gazed for a while at the black clouds and felt their sinister foretelling. In a brisk motion, they extended above him like the shadows of death. His eyes searched for a glimpse of light from the moon. Yet, the clouds swallowed the astral body in its darkness. Night fell in from all sides akin the augur of an unavoidable demise.
Pythagoras knew then.
His eyes, burning with an internal ache, browsed his surroundings before they closed for a moment. Somehow, he discerned the faraway pounding of a marching army. A thousand probably, his mind estimated. His spirit flew, beholding the horrible sight of the dark mass of heinous creatures storming towards his White City.
Torches and long spears in their hands, they hummed like some nightly beasts craving for their prey. Pythagoras snapped his eyes opened. Cold sweat dampened his back.
He ran as never before to order an immediate evacuation. As previously trained, all the families scuttled frantically through the two narrow passages, the right and the left, known only to the members of the Society.
In fretfulness, he screamed to Theano to follow him quickly. He grabbed his two small children in both his arms. He scuttled through the secret passages. He halted when Aristaeus of Crotona ran to meet him half way.
“You know what to do!” He prompted in his ear and handed over his precious children to his most faithful Initiate.
“Fear not, Master. They will be safe with me,” Aristaeus assured him with firmness then his voice broke, “Master…”
“No, brother!” Pythagoras commanded him with resolution, impeding an emotion that could weaken his wife, already in tears. “Remember, I am about to pass to another life. We all do. My time has come. That is all.”
He veered to Theano and engulfed her in his arms in his first public display of husbandry affection. He would have kept embracing her forever had the sounds of the marching death not loomed closer by the minute. He murmured words of love and caution to her ear then informed her what he had agreed on with his loyal Initiate, “Aristaeus is now in charge of you and the children, Theano. He will make sure to find you a safe shelter in a neighboring city. Trust him, dear. He has pledged his life to protect you and the children as his own family.”
Before releasing her, he delivered his last spoken will to her ears. Yet, Theano would not let go of him. She clung on to him, crying her heart out. He swallowed hard. He missed her already.
“The children, Theano… you should save our children,” he urged her with the only reason he knew that would make her abide.
Aristaeus understood then what to do. He shoved her daughter into her arms, kept her son with him, grabbed her by the elbow with his free hand, and darted with them towards the secret exit. Pinned to the floor, his vision blurred, his heart dying, Pythagoras witnessed how his beloved family disappeared through the passage.
A strong blast urged him back to the imminent catastrophe. He realized that the enemy had reached the main gate. The terrible sound as the statue of Hermes-Enoch smashed down on the ground by the entrance, reached him achingly. The bolted gate trembled under the violent assaults. The fierce attempts of the Pythagoreans to hold it did not appease the Master. He knew that it was merely a matter of time before their resistance waned and the gate crashed opened. He quickly summoned some of his top Initiates. They ran to the Temple of the Muses, and scuttled down inside the crypt. There, in safety and secrecy, Pythagoras entrusted the Secret Word to his elite, whom he had honored with the noble name of the Trees of the Garden.
“I’m sending you around the world to continue cultivating the seed of Sophia. You must never forget to nourish it with drops of water, sparks of light, pulses of life and beats of love. Go now, brothers and sisters… Go!”
Complying to his last recommendation, they pledged their most binding and solemn oath of all times:
“I swear by him who has transmitted to our minds The Sacred Four, the Tetraktys, High and Pure, The Root and Source of ever flowing Nature, The Model of the gods.”
In tears, they bid their Master farewell then charged out of the City, and towards their holy mission.
Pythagoras walked out to face his destiny in courage.
Tears, he had none, other than those mixed with the blood of his shattered heart as he contemplated the hungry fire flames licking, then swallowing the main gate. His people retreated, avoiding the blaze that burned everything to ashes. He witnessed in pain the ferocious hatred of his foes storming into the city. He beheld their indescribable rage, savagely exterminating every living person along their way.
His soul endured the excruciating blows his Silent Pythagoreans received in sacrifice to Sophia, as the creatures of darkness struck them blows to the head, pummeled their bodies, and slashed their throats. The clean white robes marring into crimson red as dozens of bodies collapsed to the ground; white doves bleeding away the purity of their lifestyle to a violent and unjust death.
The criminals set the place on fire. The wails of children and women, who had stayed behind, could not impel them to stop the cruelty of their crimes. In pain and revolt, innocence sobbed from the very depth of its essence. Motherhood moaned away its last breath, as the barbaric extermination forged its way through it. Cries ricocheted all around. They echoed among the collapsing walls, on the streets, and between the alleys. As the heat of the attack decreased, lamentations and weeping emerged from the few terrified women left alive, holding to their bosoms the cadavers of their loved ones.
The odious bellows of victory gave Kylon a sense of cowardly reassurance and safety. Only then did he decide to cross the threshold of what had stood, just moments ago, as the stoutest and most forbidden gates to him. Elated, he rode his horse through them then halted abruptly at the hellish sight all around him, which filled him with fascination.
The criminals he had created that past year had succeeded in turning the White City of love and peace into a bloody bath of death and destruction!
Motionless, he contemplated the outcome of his wicked scheme. A great sense of victory filled his being all the way to the depths of his depraved soul. With it, came the scent of fresh blood, torn flesh, and blazing ashes; mixing together the reverberations of triumphant cheers from his army with the moans of the wounded, and the dolorous wails of women and children. What struck him then, with a more acute sensation, was the terror and anguish that suddenly grabbed at his capability to breathe. Akin to the portent of drums, heralding his own damnation, his heart hammered painfully in his chest, blurred his vision, and waned his hearing. Breathless, he watched as his rabble set fire to the Temple of El-Apollo first and the Temple of the Muses next. His own horse whined and startled in revolt. It became difficult to control. Its head snapped left and right. It pulled back. It whined again, louder, and shook feverishly trying to dismount its rider. Kylon grabbed the bridle tight, veered the animal towards the exit, and darted out of the nightmare he himself had generated .
Meanwhile, inside the underground chamber of the Temple of the Muses, Pythagoras and some of his mathematikoi prayed to their God El-Apollo and to the three superior goddesses of the Muses; those who presided over the sciences of Cosmogony, who mastered the art of divination, and managed both concepts of life and death. They also handled the spirits of the au-delà and their reincarnations. The prayers were in preparation for their final passage into another existence.
A thunderous blast shook the foundation of the Temple where they stood. An earsplitting sound reverberated back to them.
“The Temple!” someone yelled in dread.
Pythagoras dashed forward. His group rushed behind him. They scuttled up the spiral stairs. They penetrated the hall of the Temple. Horror brought them to a brutal standstill. The fires of hell reigned in fury.
A huge piece of wood crashed on fire at their feet. They jumped backward, awakened from their shock. Quickly, they snatched their cloaks from their shoulders, and tried in frenzied despair to subdue the flames around them. In no time, their tunics had caught on fire, so had their hair and beards. The smell of burnt flesh soared. Cries of agony spawned. The flames engulfed them.
Pythagoras sobbed faintly as he whispered in the smoky air that he breathed in for the last time:
“I’m the one,
standing on the throne of Sophia,
a son of man.
I leave the Earth
and return to myself
before I fly to the Great One.”
He then collapsed. The flames consumed him in a flash. His Psyche, his Subtle Chariot, lifted his spirit up in resurrection. It soared high above, free, towards the Father of Life and into the Heart of the Central Fire… into the Great Light[45]!
Down on Earth, the aftermath of greed and envy prevailed throughout the White City. A carcass of black stones, and smoldered wood, miserably subsisted to claim the last vestiges of an empire built from love in purity, and consumed by fire in odium. The thick black smoke forged ahead, and spread thicker and thicker to pollute the air, and diffuse a venomous stench all over the region, and far beyond it. The flora bent in sorrow then perished. The greenery yielded to its extermination, not without shrieks. The Cedars lifted their burning arms in prayers of sacrifice. The birds fled far away to grieve in silence the annihilation of their heaven on earth.
And high above in the sky, a white eagle soared and glided for a long while, witnessing, in protest, the extermination of the City of a god…
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