Pythagoras is famous for his mathematical theorem, but he also ran a secretive mystical cult that believed in the transmigration of souls and had an absolutely unhinged phobia of fava beans.

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Pythagoras is famous for his mathematical theorem, but he also ran a secretive mystical cult that believed in the transmigration of souls and had an absolutely unhinged phobia of fava beans. The Pythagoreans believed that human souls could be reincarnated into bean plants, meaning that mashing up a bowl of hummus was basically equivalent to a family massacre. Some historical accounts even claim Pythagoras died because he was fleeing an angry mob but refused to run through a bean field to escape, choosing death over stepping on potential reincarnated ancestors. It takes a special kind of ancient genius to figure out the fundamental geometry of the universe but still let a legume dictate your survival strategy