Ancient Aliens: Pythagoras' Revelations of Mathematical Sound (Season 12, Episode 8) | History

Summary

In the 6th century BC, Pythagoras, a renowned Greek mathematician and philosopher, traveled to Egypt to study esoteric arts. He discovered a mathematical relationship between musical notes and scales, leading to the Western musical scale. Pythagoras theorized that the universe operates as a harmonious whole, with each planet vibrating at a unique frequency, creating the 'music of the spheres.'

Takeaways

• 📚 Pythagoras was a prominent Greek mathematician and philosopher known for his travels to Egypt in the 6th century BC.
• 🌐 Over a decade, he studied under various Egyptian priesthoods to learn esoteric arts.
• 🔮 Pythagoras gained secret knowledge that seemed advanced for his time.
• 🎵 He was fascinated by the mathematical properties of sound, especially after hearing tones from a blacksmith's shop.
• 🎶 Pythagoras discovered that musical notes could be mathematically represented through ratios, leading to the Western musical scale.
• 🎻 He theorized that musical intervals like thirds, fifths, and octaves could be produced by holding strings at fractional ratios.
• 🌌 Pythagoras speculated that the universe and everything in it is in a constant state of vibration.
• 🎵 He believed in a cosmic harmony, suggesting that even planets emit unique sounds, known as the 'music of the spheres'.
• 🌟 Each planet in the solar system was thought to vibrate at its own frequency, contributing to the universal harmony.
• 👂 Modern interpretations suggest that the radiation from planets can be converted into audible signals, aligning with Pythagoras's theories.

Q & A

Who was Pythagoras and what was his significance in Greek history?

Pythagoras was a famous Greek mathematician and philosopher from the sixth century BC. He is significant in Greek history due to his groundbreaking theories and discoveries in mathematics, philosophy, and music.

Where did Pythagoras travel to and for how long did he stay there?

Pythagoras traveled to Egypt and stayed there for over the course of ten years to study the esoteric arts under various local priesthoods.

What secret knowledge did Pythagoras obtain from the Egyptian priesthood?

Pythagoras obtained information that seemed very far ahead of his time from the Egyptian priesthood, which included knowledge of different secret societies and organizations.

How did Pythagoras become fascinated with sound?

Pythagoras became fascinated with sound when he walked past a blacksmith shop and heard the sound of metal striking metal, which he thought could be understood mathematically.

What was Pythagoras' discovery about the relationship between sound and mathematics?

Pythagoras discovered that there was a mathematical relationship between different musical notes and a scale, which could be expressed through fractions and discrete ratios.

How did Pythagoras' discovery influence Western music?

Pythagoras' discovery led to the entire Western musical scale, where waves generated by strings or wind instruments could be converted into clear notes and scales using mathematical ratios.

What did Pythagoras theorize about the universe and its constant state?

Pythagoras theorized that the universe and everything in it is in a constant state of vibration, and that there is a harmony throughout the cosmos.

What is the 'music of the spheres' as theorized by Pythagoras?

The 'music of the spheres' is a concept theorized by Pythagoras, which suggests that each planet in the solar system vibrates at its own unique frequency and produces a distinct sound.

How does the concept of 'music of the spheres' relate to modern understanding of planetary vibrations?

The concept of 'music of the spheres' relates to modern understanding by suggesting that each planet emits its own unique sound based on its frequency, which can be converted to an audible signal.

What did Pythagoras compare the universe to in terms of its harmonious operation?

Pythagoras compared the universe to a lyre, an instrument similar to a modern harp, with different strings vibrating at different frequencies to produce a harmonious sound.

What is the significance of Pythagoras' work in the context of modern science and music?

Pythagoras' work is significant as it laid the foundation for understanding the mathematical principles behind music and the concept of harmony in the universe, which continues to influence both scientific and musical studies today.