Lysis of Taras

Lysis was an ancient Greek Pythagoreans and teachers of the Theban statesman Epaminondas. He lived in the 5th and early 4th century BC

Life

Lysis was born in the Greek colony of Taranto in Apulia ( Southern Italy). The spread in the Greek cities of southern Italy Community of the Pythagoreans, to which he belonged, was then exposed for their intervention in politics very controversial and violent attacks in several cities. The philosopher Aristoxenus reports that opponents of the Pythagoreans (now Crotone in Calabria ) put their meeting house in Croton on fire; where appropriate, all gathered there Pythagoreans except two - the then still young Lysis and Archippus of Tarentum - have been killed. In any case, the Pythagoreans were greatly weakened and could no longer claim for some time as a political force. These disturbances are usually dated to the middle of the 5th century, but also late dating is considered ( 440-415 ). Among the Pythagoreans, who emigrated then to Greece, was Lysis.

That Lysis settled in Thebes and there the young Epaminondas, who rose later become one of the leading statesmen of Greece taught, it is apparent from credible reports. To what extent this Epameinondas Pythagorean ideas recorded and was later influence them, however, is difficult to determine. One according to tradition, reported by Plutarch Lysis spent his evening at the home of Epaminondas ' father Polymnis and was maintained there until his death, and spoken by the children of Polymnis as a father.

The Neo-Platonists and Neo-Pythagoreans Iamblichus of Chalcis tells an anecdote according to which lysis appointments so conscientious cheated on that he once waited a day and a night at the Temple of Hera on a Pythagoreans, who had forgotten the deal.

Lysisbrief

Sure inauthentic is the popular in the ancient world " Lysisbrief ", the lysis allegedly addressed to the Pythagoreans Hipparchus. It is one of the pseudepigraphical alleged Pythagoreerbriefe which were common in the Roman imperial period. The Lysisbrief calls the fictitious receiver to secrecy philosophical teachings. In 1499 the first edition was published by Aldus Manutius in Venice. Back in the 15th century had the letter translated into Latin Cardinal Bessarion; in the 16th century was followed by other Latin translations of Philipp Melanchthon and Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus could be strengthen by the ancient text as a restraint on the publication of his own findings. A German translation made ​​to Matthias Claudius.

Swell

• Holger Thesleff (Ed.): The Pythagorean Texts of the Hellenistic Period. Åbo Akademi, Åbo 1965, p 110-115 ( compilation of relevant sources )
• Maria Timpanaro Cardini: Pitagorici. Testimonianze e frammenti. Volume 2, La Nuova Italia, Florence 1962, pp. 258-261 ( Greek source texts with Italian Translation )