acousmatics

The term "acousmatic" refers to a follower of the Pythagorean sect who received exoteric teachings, meaning teachings that were meant for external or public consumption, as opposed to esoteric doctrines reserved for initiates.1

Pythagoreanism, originating in the late 6th century BCE, was a movement that later split into two main sects around 400 BCE: the akousmatikoi (acousmatics) and the mathēmatikoi (mathematics). The acousmatics focused on observing rituals and rules and interpreting the sayings of Pythagoras, while the "mathematics" delved into the scientific aspects of Pythagoreanism.2

The Pythagorean school, founded by Pythagoras in Croton, was initially a religious brotherhood. Members were expected to adhere to strict rituals, including silence during their novitiate. The exoteric associates were politically active, but a democratic revolution in the mid-5th century BCE led to the persecution of many Pythagoreans. Later, in the 4th century BCE, a new center of Pythagoreanism emerged in Tarentum under Archytas, from which acousmatics traveled as mendicant ascetics. These acousmatics preserved early Pythagorean sayings and ritual practices.34