Pythagoras and the Delphic mysteries by Edouard Schuré
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"Pythagoras and the Delphic mysteries" by Edouard Schuré is an esoteric historical study written in the late 19th century. It blends myth-infused cultural history with philosophical exposition to portray Pythagoras’s life, travels, and teachings alongside the role of Delphi and the structure of the Pythagorean order. The work argues that Greece’s true soul lay in its mysteries and initiations, and presents Pythagoras as the great organizer who sought to reanimate Orphic wisdom
through number, harmony, and ethical discipline. The opening of the book situates sixth‑century Greece amid the decline of Orphic tradition and the corruption of temples, then introduces Pythagoras as the lay successor to Orpheus who would translate esoteric doctrine into public education and civic reform. We follow his youth in Samos under Polycrates, his nocturnal insight that number, unity, and cosmic harmony reconcile earth, heaven, and human liberty, and his resolve to seek initiation in Egypt. The narrative recounts his long Egyptian training, the Persian conquest, and his deportation to Babylon, where he studies Chaldean and Magian arts before returning determined to act in Greece. At Delphi, Schuré describes the site, Apollo’s myth, and a theory of divination grounded in a universal “astral light,” then shows Pythagoras revitalizing the oracle through the priestess Theoclea, whom he prepares as a true seer. The scene shifts to Croton, where he founds an institute that combines education, science, and communal life; outlines strict tests of character and silence; and prescribes a disciplined daily rhythm of study, music, prayer, and friendship. The section closes by introducing the second degree of initiation and the core doctrine: sacred mathematics, where numbers are living principles that ground a rational theogony and the harmony of the kosmos. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Schuré, Edouard, 1841-1929 |
|---|---|
| Translator | Rothwell, Fred, 1869-1934 |
| Title | Pythagoras and the Delphic mysteries |
| Original Publication | New York: The Theosophical Publishing Co., 1909. |
| Credits | Mairi, Carol Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 58.2 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion |
| Subject | Mysteries, Religious |
| Subject | Pythagoras and Pythagorean school |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 76522 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-76522-8 |
| Release Date | Jul 17, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 305 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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