Hippăsus
(
Ἵππασος). A native of Metapontum and follower of the
Pythagorean doctrine. He is said to have excelled in the application of mathematical
principles to music, statics, and mensuration. In common with others of the same school,
he held that fire was the originating cause of all things. He taught also that the universe is
finite, is always changing, and undergoes a periodical conflagration. In consequence of his
having made known the sphere consisting of twelve pentagons, which was a secret of the
Pythagoreans, he is said to have been drowned as an impious person (
Diog.
Laert. viii.).