Cylon of Croton explained

Cylon of Croton was a leading citizen of Croton, Magna Graecia, who led a revolt against the Pythagoreans, probably around 509 BC.[1] According to Iamblichus' De Vita Pythagorae, Cylon had previously tried and failed to be accepted into the Pythagorean order (VP 248); however, the clearly pro-Pythagorean bias of Iamblichus' work means we should take this with a grain of salt. In the climactic moment of the revolt, a meeting house was set on fire as the Pythagoreans were debating inside - according, again, to Iamblichus (VP 249). After the success of the rebellion, all debts owed were eliminated and property was seized for redistribution;[2] this arguably resulted in Pythagoras being expelled from Croton.[3]

Notes and References

  1. E. Robinson, Democracy Beyond Athens, Cambridge 2011, p. 108.
  2. Book: Robinson, Eric W. 1997. The First Democracies: Early Popular Government Outside Athens. Stuttgart. Franz Steiner Verlag. 76. 9783515069519 .
  3. Web site: Old Masters of Academia: Pythagoras . Knowles . George . 2 February 2008 . Controverscial . 2 July 2016 . 17 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717034923/https://controverscial.com/Pythagoras.htm . dead .