A Philosopher Who Believed Beans Contained Souls
“Fun” is probably not what comes to mind when most people think of Pythagoras (circa 570 – circa 495 BC), the ancient Greek philosopher whose Pythagorean theorem has tormented school children for generations untold. To be sure, he had some funny beliefs, such as a hatred of beans, because he thought that they contained the souls of the dead. Or his conviction that people lost a part of their soul whenever they farted. The thing though, is that Pythagoras did not think those beliefs were funny.
As seen further down this list, Pythagoras was dead serious about his strange beliefs. Literally, dead serious. As he fled from pursuers out to kill him, his flight path ended at a field of beans. Rather than cut through the field and come in contact with the detested beans, he turned around to face his killers, who promptly did him in. However, as seen below, Pythagoras did have a fun side, some of which was manifested in his invention of a prank cup that spilled wine on drinkers.
