Theano (philosopher) facts for kids
Theano of Crotone (Greek: Θεανώ) was an important Greek philosopher who lived around 600 BC. She was part of the Pythagorean group, which followed the teachings of the famous mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras. Some people say she was Pythagoras's wife, while others believe she was his student. There are also ideas that she was married to a man named Brontinus. We don't know for sure where she was born or who her father was. Some historians even think there might have been two different women named Theano, whose stories got mixed up over time. Many consider Theano to be the first known woman mathematician. She might have even worked on ideas like the golden ratio, which is a special number found in nature and art.
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Who Was Theano?
Her Life and Family
We don't know a lot about Theano's early life. One story says she came from Crete and her father was Pythonax. Another story says she was from Crotone (a city in ancient Italy) and her father was Brontinus. Many ancient writers believed she was the wife of Pythagoras. However, another tradition says she was married to Brontinus. A writer named Iamblichus tried to clear up this confusion by saying that a woman named Deino was Brontinus's wife.
Theano and Pythagoras were said to have several children. These included three daughters named Damo, Myia, and Arignote, and a son named Telauges. Another ancient source, the Suda, also mentions Telauges, Myia, and Arignote, along with another son named Mnesarkhos.
The Pythagorean School
Pythagoras started a special school in Croton, Italy. This school focused on subjects like mathematics, philosophy, and understanding nature. It's believed that Pythagoras welcomed both men and women into his school, which was quite unusual for that time. At one point, the school had about 300 students, and around 28 of them were women.
Pythagoras wanted his school to be open to everyone, no matter their gender. This encouraged many women to study science and astronomy, which was not common. It's even said that many men were inspired by the women who were studying there. After Pythagoras passed away, Theano took over as the head of the school. Her children helped her continue its work. The school remained active for over 200 years, even after both Theano and Pythagoras had died. Theano herself passed away in the 5th century BC and is thought to have been buried near the school.
What Did Theano Write?
Her Ideas and Books
Several writings are believed to have been written by Theano. These include "Pythagorean Apophthegms" (wise sayings), "Female Advice," "On Virtue," "On Piety" (about being religious or respectful), "On Pythagoras," "Philosophical Commentaries," and various "Letters." Sadly, most of these writings have been lost over time. Only a few small parts and letters remain, and we're not entirely sure if she wrote all of them.
Some historians think that these remaining pieces might have been written by later authors who used Theano's name. This was a way to share Pythagorean ideas, especially about how women should live. One surviving part of "On Piety" talks about how numbers are connected to everything in the world. The letters that survived often discuss everyday family matters. They give advice on how a woman should raise children, treat servants, and be a good wife.
Theano wrote in "On Piety":
I have learned that many of the Greeks believe Pythagoras said all things are generated from number. The very assertion poses a difficulty: How can things which do not exist even be conceived to generate? But he did not say that all things come to be from number; rather, in accordance with number – on the grounds that order in the primary sense is in number and it is by participation in order that a first and a second and the rest sequentially are assigned to things which are counted.
This means she explained that Pythagoras didn't say things came from numbers, but that they followed the order found in numbers.
Some people have claimed that Theano wrote about the golden ratio in mathematics or the golden mean in philosophy. However, there isn't clear proof from her time to support these claims.
Theano wrote many "treatises," which are formal written works about a specific subject. She wrote about medicine, physics, mathematics, and psychology. Some of her important historical writings include "Cosmology" (about the universe), "The Theorem of the Golden Mean," "The Theory of Numbers," and "The Construction of the Universe." "The Theorem of the Golden Mean" is considered one of her most debated works. In it, she wrote about the universe and planets. For example, she suggested that stars cannot move, which was different from what other philosophers like Aristotle believed. Despite these debates, "The Theorem of the Golden Mean" is still seen as one of Theano's most important writings today.
Why Her Writings Are Special
It's not uncommon for the work of women, especially those who worked with more famous men like Pythagoras, to not get the recognition they deserve. This might be part of why Theano remains a bit of a mystery. People generally agree that she worked closely with Pythagoras and published various works, sometimes using different names. She is considered a very intelligent woman, especially because she continued her education at the school her husband taught at. A lot of her contributions might have been overlooked because her husband was a more famous philosopher, and because of how women were viewed at the time.
Even though there are different stories about her work and private life, some non-academic stories are thought to be true. For example, there's a story that Theano was walking one day and her elbow became uncovered. Someone commented that it was a beautiful elbow. She replied, "Yes, but not a public one!" This shows her modesty and wisdom.
Some scholars believe that the writings thought to be by Theano were actually written by men using her name. However, it's also true that even Theano's own work wasn't always credited to her, and she didn't have the same high social standing as Pythagoras. While it's true that in the society Pythagoras lived in, women were considered equal in theory, in practice, this wasn't always the case over time.
See also
In Spanish: Téano para niños
