The two philosophers who were to influence Pythagoras, and to introduce him to mathematical ideas, were Thales and his pupil Anaximander who both lived on Miletus. Thales, he did contribute to Pythagoras's interest in mathematics and astronomy, and advised him to travel to Egypt to learn more of these subjects.Pythagoras learned geometry from the Egyptians Pythagoras was the head of the society with an inner circle of followers known as mathematikoi