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Women in Early Pythagoreanism Women in Early Pythagoreanism Caterina Pellò Faculty of Classics University of Cambridge Clare Hall February 2018 This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Alla nonna Ninni, che mi ha insegnato a leggere e scrivere Abstract Women in Early Pythagoreanism Caterina Pellò The sixth-century-BCE Pythagorean communities included both male and female members. This thesis focuses on the Pythagorean women and aims to explore what reasons lie behind the prominence of women in Pythagoreanism and what roles women played in early Pythagorean societies and thought. In the first chapter, I analyse the social conditions of women in Southern Italy, where the first Pythagorean communities were founded. In the second chapter, I compare Pythagorean societies with ancient Greek political clubs and religious sects. Compared to mainland Greece, South Italian women enjoyed higher legal and socio-political status. Similarly, religious groups included female initiates, assigning them authoritative roles. Consequently, the fact that the Pythagoreans founded their communities in Croton and further afield, and that in some respects these communities resembled ancient sects helps to explain why they opened their doors to the female gender to begin with. The third chapter discusses Pythagoras’ teachings to and about women. Pythagorean doctrines did not exclusively affect the followers’ way of thinking and public activities, but also their private way of living. Thus, they also regulated key aspects of the female everyday life, such as marriage and motherhood. I argue that the Pythagorean women entered the communities as wives, mothers and daughters. Nonetheless, some of them were able to gain authority over their fellow Pythagoreans and engage in intellectual activities, thus overcoming the female traditional domestic roles. The fourth chapter argues that another contributing factor to the status of the Pythagorean women is the doctrine of metempsychosis. This belief led the Pythagoreans to adopt similar behaviours towards other ensouled beings. Therefore, since men and women were believed to have the same souls, they were treated with the same respect and received the same education. Finally, the fifth chapter explores how the Pythagorean views on women are taken up and developed in Plato’s Republic. I argue that, although the Pythagoreans never went as far as to have philosopher-queens and abolish private families, they took the first step towards Plato’s ‘gender equality’ theory. Overall, that of women in Pythagoreanism is the first documented case of female engagement with ancient philosophy: Pythagorean men and women lived together according to the same lifestyle, were educated on the same doctrines and played equally integral roles in the intellectual community. v Preface and Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my dissertation has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text It does not exceed the prescribed word limit for the relevant Degree Committee. This dissertation is 79,982 words in length. All translations from Greek and Latin sources are my own unless otherwise stated. Caterina Pellò February 5, 2018 vii Acknowledgements First of all, I would like to thank my supervisors, who have been a continuous source of inspiration. Gábor Betegh guided me throughout this work with his contagious enthusiasm, insight, unfailing support and patience. Myrto Hatzimichali always provided excellent teaching, kind encouragement and sound advice. I am profoundly grateful to them both for everything they have taught me. I presented earlier versions of this research in various settings, and I am thankful for conversations with Sophia Connell, Gabriele Cornelli, Rebecca Flemming, Richard McKirahan, Phillip Horky, Catherine Rowett, David Sedley, Frisbee Sheffield, Shaul Tor and James Warren. During my time in Cambridge, I benefited greatly from interacting with the junior and senior members of the B Caucus, attending the ancient philosophy seminars and participating in our rich and exciting discussions. I am especially grateful to Ellisif, Vilius, Chiara and Alessio. I would also like to thank my Clare Hall, Barton Road and Coleridge Road families, especially Abby, Alex, Chloe, Giovanna and Pawel, for their constant help and invaluable friendship. My college, Clare Hall, provided a most welcoming community, of which I loved being part. My doctorate was funded by the Faculty of Classics, the Clare Hall Development Fund Bursary, Mellon Bursary and Ishii Bursary. I wish to express my gratitude to these bodies for making my research possible. Finally, this is a thesis about wise women, and is therefore dedicated to women whose wisdom I admire: Ninni, Anna, Lella, Laura, Sabrina, Francesca, Giulia, Carola, Anna, Francesca, Martina, Anna, Giulia, Teresa, Viola, Lara and Stephanie. I would also like to acknowledge the other half of my family: Ezio, Marino, Filippo, Marco, Alfredo, Luca, Piero, Matteo, Federico, Matteo, Edoardo and Pietro. Most importantly, I would like to thank four people without whom no word of this thesis would have been written. Vorrei ringraziare i miei genitori, Sandro e Mariuccia, per essere stati la mia forza con la loro generosità e incondizionato supporto. Vorrei ringraziare mio fratello Francesco perché cinque anni fa mi disse ‘stai tranquilla e punta in alto’… e io ci ho provato. Infine, vorrei ringraziare Pietro per essere stato allo stesso tempo il mio primo lettore, compagno di lunghe e stimolanti discussioni, e il mio più indispensabile e instancabile sostegno: I could not have asked for a better partner with whom to share all this. ix Table of Contents Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... xiii Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 I. Status quaestionum and the present study …………………….….………..………..1 i. Women in ancient philosophy ………………………….…………………....………………...1 ii. Pythagoras the shaman vs. Pythagoras the mathematician …………………..………………...4 iii. Women in Pythagoreanism .………….…….………………………………………………….5 II. Synopsis……………………………………………………….………………...…..9 III. Methodology and sources .……..…………....……………………………….……12 Chapter 1: Women in Ancient Greece: From Croton to Sparta ............................................... 17 I. The ‘most illustrious’ Pythagorean women ………………...……………...………17 II. Ionian and Italian women…………………………………………….…...…..…... 22 III. Spartan women …………………………...…………...……….……………..…... 29 IV. The ‘unusual’ Pythagorean women ……………………………………………..... 33 V. Conclusions ...…………………………....………..…..………………………..…36 Chapter 2: Early Pythagorean Societies ................................................................................... 39 I. Greek ἑταιρεῖαι and the Pythagorean twist …………………………………...……39 II. Greek θίασοι and Pythagorean sects ……………………..……….……..…..….……53 III. On the Pythagorean way of life …………..………………………….……...……..60 IV. Conclusions .……………………...………………………………..……………...62 Chapter 3: Four Pythagorean Precepts ..................................................................................... 65 I. Different strokes for different folks ........................................................................ 65 II. Source problems ...................................................................................................... 71 i. The Crotonian speeches …...……………………….………………………………….…..…71 ii. The ἀκούσματα …………….....………...……………………………..……………..………74 III. Do not chase your wife away ................................................................................... 78 IV. Do not adulterate the line ......................................................................................... 86 V. The temperate and lawful begetting of children ...................................................... 93 VI. Women are most suited for piety ........................................................................... 102 VII. Are men and women of the same nature? .............................................................. 110 VIII. Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 112 xi Chapter 4: The Lives of Pythagoras ....................................................................................... 115 I. Questions and context ............................................................................................ 115 II. Retribution vs. non-retribution .............................................................................. 119 III. Vitae Pythagorae ................................................................................................... 127 IV. Pythagoras the memorious ....................................................................................
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