Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Legend Says Pythagoras' Followers Died Rather Than Cross Beans
A story about the Greek philosopher Pythagoras says he and his followers were afraid of beans.
In one version, they were running away from enemies.
They came to a field full of flowering fava beans.
The story says they would not run through it.
Instead, they turned around to face their pursuers.
Most of them were reportedly killed.
No one can easily confirm that this story really happened.
It became part of the legends told about Pythagoras and his followers.
One legend says Pythagoras or a group of his followers fled from attackers.
They reportedly encountered a field of flowering fava beans.
Rather than cross the field, they turned back toward their pursuers.
The story says most of them were killed.
The account is difficult to verify and became part of Pythagoras's mythology.
- Who
- Pythagoras or a group of his followers, called Pythagoreans.
- What
- A legend says they turned back to face attackers rather than cross a field of flowering fava beans, and most were killed.
- Where
- In a field of flowering fava beans; the location is not specified.
- Why
- According to the legend, they avoided crossing the beans because of Pythagoras's aversion to them.
- Story type
- Legend; difficult to verify
- People involved
- Pythagoras or a group of Pythagoreans, depending on the version
- Obstacle
- A field of flowering fava beans
- Reported choice
- They turned around rather than run through the field
- Reported outcome
- Most were killed
- Legacy
- The tale became part of the mythology surrounding Pythagoras and his followers