The pythagorean community: typology and identity

Authors

  • Gabriele Cornelli

Keywords:

Pythagoreanism, community, ethics, religion

Abstract

Classical Greek models of association can be divided into two major types: the thíasos and the hetairía. While the first is more directly connected with the common practice of religious ritual, with the sharing of rites and knowledge of the mysteries, the hetairía is closely connected with the idea of an association of philoí, in the political sense usually attributed to it, of allies and comrades in a private group. The Pythagorean community is considered to be a hetairía, but many of its characteristics point to the model of a thíasos. However, neither definition seems to fit the singularities of koinonía which characterize the Pythagorean way of living.

Author Biography

Gabriele Cornelli

Gabriele Cornelli é professor da Universidade de Brasília, Brasil. E-mail: gabriele.cornelli@gmail.com