Damo

Damo, an ancient Greek Pythagorean philosopher, is traditionally identified as the daughter of Pythagoras and Theano. She was reputedly born in Croton, located in Magna Graecia (modern-day Italy). According to historical accounts, including those by Diogenes Laërtius and Iamblichus, Damo married Meno of Croton. She is sometimes referred to as the only daughter of Pythagoras, while other traditions mention sisters like Arignote and Myia. Damo, alongside her brother Telauges, was a member of the Pythagorean school founded by her father. A significant aspect of her legacy involves the writings of Pythagoras. It is said that Pythagoras bequeathed his writings to Damo, who protected them faithfully. She refused to sell these texts, deeming her father's injunctions and her own poverty more valuable than material wealth. This act of preservation highlights her dedication to her father's philosophical legacy. She, in turn, passed these writings, referred to as *hypomnemata* (memoranda), to her daughter Bitale, her brother Telauges, and a relative on her mother's side. However, like much of the early Pythagorean philosophical corpus, Damo's own writings and the inherited works are not known to have survived to the present day.