Page 36 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

In addition we have the statements of Plutarch, Demetrius and Antisthenes that Pythagoras
founded the Science of Mathematics among the Greeks, and that he sacrificed to the Muses,
when the Priests explained to him the properties of the right angled triangle. (Philarch de
Repugn. Stoic 2 p. 1089; Demetrius; Antisthenes; Cicero de Natura Deorum III, 36). Pythagoras
was also trained in music by the Egyptian priests. (Kendrick's Hist. of Ancient Egypt vol. I. p.
234).

(3) According to Diogenes Laertius and Herodotus, Democritus is said to have been born about
400 B.C. and to have been a native of Abdera in Miletus. We are also told by Demetrius in his
treatise on "People of the Same Name", and by Antisthenes in his treatise on "Succession", that
Democritus travelled to Egypt for the purpose of his education and received the instruction of the
Priests. We also learn from Diogenes and Herodotus that he spent five years under the instruction
of the Egyptian Priests and that after the completion of his education, he wrote a treatise on the
sacred characters of Meroe.

In this respect we further learn from Origen, that circumcision was compulsory, and one of the
necessary conditions of initiation to a knowledge of the hieroglyphics and sciences of the
Egyptians, and it is obvious that Democritus, in order to obtain such knowledge, must have
submitted also to that rite. Origen, who was a native of Egypt wrote as follows: "Apud Aegyptios
nullus aut geometrica studebat, aut astronomiae secreta remabatur, nisi circumcisione suscepta."
(No one among the Egyptians, either studied geometry, or investigated the secrets of Astronomy,
unless circumcision had been undertaken).

(4) Concerning Plato's travels we are told by Hermodorus that at the age of 28 Plato visited
Euclid at Megara in company with other pupils of Socrates; and that for the next ten years he
visited Cyrene, Italy and finally Egypt, where he received instruction from the Egyptian Priests.

(5) With regards to Socrates and Aristotle and the majority of pre-Socratic philosophers, history
seems to be silent on the question of their travelling to Egypt like the few other students here
mentioned, for the purpose of their education. It is enough to say, that in this case the exceptions
have proved the rule, that ail students, who had the means, went to Egypt to complete their
education. The fact that history fails to supply a fuller account of this type of immigration, might
be due to some or all of the following reasons:

(a) The immigration laws against the Greeks up to the time of King Amasis and the Persian
Invasion, (b) Prose history was undeveloped among the Greeks during the period of their
educational immigration to Egypt. (c) The Greek authorities persecuted and drove students of
philosophy into hiding and consequently, (d) Students of the Mystery System concealed their
movements.

35

Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook