(570 BCE - 495 BCE)
Pythagoras was born on the island of Samos in ancient Greece. He became a priest at age 22, specializing in number theory and sacred geometry. He founded a philosophical and religious school in Croton, southern Italy. His followers believed that mathematics was the key to understanding the universe. Beyond the famous theorem bearing his name, he contributed to music theory, astronomy, and the concept of the transmigration of souls.