The inspiration behind writing 'Unknown Number'
Table of contents for other works
When I was tasked with writing a piece on the theme of a "phone book" for the HEAR Scenario Club I belong to,
I couldn't think of anything,
but I remembered the word "number" and
a strange poem I had seen a long time ago featuring Pythagoras.
So, when I searched for "Pythagoras" and "disciple",
I found a story that was quite scary, or rather, one that made me think, "So that's how it turns out...", so I decided to use that for my work.
That is
"Unknown Number".It is a story about a disciple of Pythagoras who discovers a new number, and the tragicomedy that ensues because of it.
I wonder what it really means to seek the truth...
The actual, much gentler story said to be included in the Greek Anthology is this one.
O talented Pythagoras,
direct descendant of the Muses,
pray tell me,
the number of your disciples.
Half of my disciples
explore the beauty of numbers,
a quarter seek the laws of nature,
one-seventh of the disciples
keep their mouths firmly shut,
lost in deep contemplation.
There are three female disciples besides,
and that is the sum of all my disciples.
From the Greek Anthology
It's a poem that feels a bit like a riddle, but I think you can find the answer immediately if you set up an equation.
People called the Pythagorean brotherhood or the Pythagorean school were secretive, so it seems there are fairy-tale-like or mythical episodes regarding Pythagoras. I thought the number of disciples was far greater than this, but I remember solving these kinds of strange problems often when I was a child.