[Leica] IMG: Pythagoras / Milo

[john.nebel at csdco.com (John Nebel)]

Pythagoras was conceived while his father, Mnesarchus, was visiting the 
Delphic 
Oracle, the Pythia.  According to the Oracle, Menesarchus's wife would give 
birth to a remarkable son, she did and he was named Pythagoras after the 
Pythia, 
and his father was presumed to be the god Apollo.

Milo the wrestler was one of the most famous athletes of the ancient world, 
a 
six time Olympic victor; his athletic and military feats were compared to 
the 
god Herakles.  Milo was a student of Pythagoras's and thought to have 
married 
his daughter.

http://photos.csd.net/kroton_nomos.html is a photo of a dime sized coin 
issued 
by the city-state of Kroton about 294 BC, a century after Pythagoras death; 
I 
think the city-state was commemorating its two most famous sons.  It's a 
masterpiece of engraving, and a wonder of preservation.

The obverse is Apollo, and the reverse is the infant Herakles, son of Zeus 
and 
the mortal Alcmeme, strangling two snakes sent to kill him by Zeus's 
perpetually 
jealous wife, Hera.

Mouse over the image to see the reverse, click for a larger image.

Best,

John