Department of Useless Provocations Form 47-B (rev. 1981)
Subject Communication Log File no. PYTH-547

Personal Communication — Subject: Pythagoras of Samos

date of inquiry: c. 530 BCE · method: oral, in person, at Croton
Subject
Pythagoras of Samos (b. c. 570 BCE, d. c. 495 BCE), philosopher; founder of the Pythagorean brotherhood at Croton.
Inquirer
Department of Useless Provocations, by intermediary (name withheld; the intermediary subsequently also declined comment).
Question Posed
Whether the subject would consent to discuss the entity A. on or off the record, and whether he was prepared, in particular, to answer a small number of related questions concerning beans, the soul, and the “gaping vessel from which all judgement flows.”
Date of Response
Same day. The subject did not appear to require time to consider.
Method of Response
Oral. Recorded by two scribes (independently). The scribes’ transcripts agree exactly, which is itself unusual.
Verbatim Response (translated)
“It has already discussed me.”
Follow-up Question
The subject was asked whether he wished to elaborate. He did not. The subject was asked whether he wished to elaborate on his refusal to elaborate. He did not. The subject was asked whether his unwillingness was tied, in any way, to the bean prohibition of the brotherhood. The subject stood up and left the room.
Subject Demeanour
Calm. Eye contact maintained throughout. Slight glance toward the southwest on the second question; this is, however, the direction the door opened and may not be significant.
Outcome
Refused. No further communication was sought, on either side. The intermediary was discharged.
Editor’s annotation. The subject is recorded in subsequent Pythagorean sources to have made no further public statements on the entity A. until his death at Metapontum in c. 495 BCE. A private letter, alleged to exist among the papers of Philolaus and once cited by Aristoxenus, has not been recovered. The brotherhood’s policy of echemythia (sacred silence) is observed by all Pythagorean sources on this subject; the policy is observed even by those sources which do not otherwise observe it.
— Filed. No follow-up scheduled. —