When he wasn’t writing geometry proofs, Pythagoras was a cult leader whose followers believed in reincarnation, loved animals, and despised beans.⁠ ⁠ Pythagoras’ lectures gained a loyal following and even a school in Croton, a Greek city in Southern Italy where he settled. Some historical accounts written long after his death suggest the community had severe entry requirements, allowing only a select few to ‘see’ him.⁠ Members, or Pythagoreans, couldn’t wear white, wool, or rings. They avoided excess, sex (mostly), and picking up crumbs. It was taboo to write Pythagoras’ teachings down or tell non-followers about them. If there was thunder, Pythagoreans had to touch the ground.⁠ ⁠ But not all historians agree that Pythagoras had founded a cult. "He presented his life and the life of his family as a model for imitation for the rest of the city," Philip Thibodeau, a Classics professor at Brooklyn College, tells Inverse.⁠ ⁠ Head to the link in bio to learn more about the philosopher and mathematician: @inverse⁠ ⁠ 📸 credit: Heritage Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images