D for Damo: Female Scientists Before Our Time

Damo was a philosopher born in southern Italy (Crotone) in 535 BC to parents Pythagoras and Theano. She may have had two sisters and a brother.  She belonged to a Pythagorean sect that followed the philosophical teachings of her father Pythagoras, who has been called “the first man to call himself a philosopher, or lover of wisdom.” 

The philosophy would greatly influenced religion and philosophy in the 6th century, including the beliefs and tenets of Aristotle and Plato. Historically and of most importance, Pythagorean philosophy began a movement that would deepen the "moral consciousness in Greece." 

There was a strong connection between the science of mathematics and mysticism in the philosophy. Numbers were important and represented the "essence and basis of all things," and there were complicated applications to music, cosmology, psychology, theology and ethics.

Damo is thought to have guarded and passed down her father’s writings to a daughter, but none have ever been found. 

Greek women: Mathematicians and Philosophers

Perhaps the writings--and this is pure speculation--were hidden under the daughter's clothing or in a secret compartment known only to a servant. A fatal illness took her in the night and the writings were stolen . . .

I sometimes imagine the archive boxes I have saved for my children will one day be carted off to a dump or an antique store. Not all history can be saved or deserves to be saved.  Do you ever wonder about this?

Source: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damo_(philosopher);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras
https://www3.nd.edu/~maritain/jmc/etext/hop02.htm

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing