THE GNOSTIC SERPENTS ?

Pythagoras, Incarnation of the Primal Serpent

Pythagoras, whose name means “Place of the Serpent,” is recognized as an incarnation of the Primal Serpent who went through numerous initiations in Europe, Asia and Africa and then taught the Serpent Wisdom he acquired in his famous school in southern Italy.

During his upbringing on the island of Samos Pythagoras was exposed to many of the most ancient mystery teachings. Having been born into home of Pelasgian parents (Pelagians were ancient sea people from Atlantis) he was surrounded by the wisdom from the Atlantic Motherland, as well as the Orphic rites and wisdom of the reformed Dionysian tradition.

Upon reaching a mature age Pythagoras traveled first to Egypt where he spent twenty two years stµdying with the Djedhi priests Memphis, Heliopolis, and Thebes. The culmination of his pivotal time in Khem was initiation within the Great Pyramid, at which point he became a Djedhi Master. Pythagoras then traveled to Samothrace, Crete, and Eleusis where he gained initiation into the Dactyloi Order that had been anciently founded by Atlantean missionaries. Traveling eastward Pythagoras then earned initiation into the Chaldean rites of the Ashipu, the Phoenician rites of Green Man Adonis, the mysteries of the Persian Magi, and the yogic disciplines of the Hindus. Legend has it that in India, where he was. known as Yavancharya, Pythagoras achieved his final initiations in the cave temples of Elephanta, Ellora and Ajanta, which were reputed to have connected to a network of Asian tunnels leading to the eastern most headquarters of the ancient Serpent Masters in Tibet.

Returning, home to the Mediterranean area, Pythagoras founded his synthesized mystery school in Crotona, Southern Italy, and quickly procured for himself a reputation as an incarnation of the Serpent’s power and wisdom. Among his new Italian peers it became common knowledge that Pythagoras was capable of controlling the weather, prophesying the future, and even raising the dead. Among his students Pythagoras additionally garnered the denomination of a hard task master. A candidate seeking initiation into his school was first required to undergo an austere probationary period of five years during which absolute silence was observed punctuated with a sparse vegetarian diet.

There were three degrees in Serpent Wisdom in Pythagoras’s school. In the first degree of Mathematicus the student was exposed to various forms of geometry and mathematics. In the second degree of Theoreticus, meaning “theory” or “philosophy”, the student practiced Gnostic Yoga while speculating on the nature of existence and the origins of the cosmos. In the final degree of Electus the student underwent alchemical initiation and Kundalini activation that eventually led him or her to becoming a Serpent Master. The new adept then received a golden ring with the five-pointed star insignia of the Pythagoran Serpent Order inscribed on the top that was surrounded by an ouroboros snake. Initiates who wore this ring included Epimenides, the Cretan Master who lived 150 years; Empedocles, the Greek Adept who could see into the past and future; and Apollonius, who gained renown for his teleportation and dematerialization abilities. Legend has it that Apollonius gained immortality and lived more than 1000 years.

From: “The Return of the Serpents of Wisdom” ?
by Mark Amaru Pinkham