Myia (; grc-gre, Μυῖα, literally "Fly"; fl. c. 500 BC) was a

Pythagorean Pythagorean, meaning of or pertaining to the ancient Ionian mathematician, philosopher, and music theorist Pythagoras, may refer to: Philosophy * Pythagoreanism, the esoteric and metaphysical beliefs purported to have been held by Pythagoras * Ne ...

philosopher and, according to later tradition, one of the daughters of

Theano In Greek mythology, Theano (; Ancient Greek: Θεανώ) may refer to the following personages: *Theano, wife of Metapontus, king of Icaria. Metapontus demanded that she bear him children, or leave the kingdom. She presented the children of Melan ...

and

Pythagoras Pythagoras of Samos ( grc, Πυθαγόρας ὁ Σάμιος, Pythagóras ho Sámios, Pythagoras the Samian, or simply ; in Ionian Greek; ) was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His politi ...

Life

Myia was married to

Milo of Croton Milo or Milon of Croton (late 6th century BC) was a famous ancient Greek athlete. He was most likely a historical person, as he is mentioned by many classical authors, among them Aristotle, Pausanias, Cicero, Herodotus, Vitruvius, Epictetus, an ...

, the famous athlete. She was a choir leader as a girl, and as a woman she was noted for her exemplary religious behaviour. Lucian, in his ''In Praise of a Fly'', states that he could say many things about Myia the Pythagorean were it not for the fact that her history is known to everyone.Lucian, ''In Praise of a Fly'', 11 One letter attributed to Myia is still extant. It is spurious, and probably dates from the 3rd or 2nd century BC.Ian Michael Plant, (2004), ''Women writers of ancient Greece and London: an anthology'', University of Oklahoma Press, p. 79. The letter is addressed to a certain Phyllis, and discusses the importance of fulfilling the needs of a newborn baby according to the principle of harmony. According to the writer, a baby naturally desires moderation in all things, such as food, clothing, heating, etc., and a

nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...

of that baby must be moderate also.Mary Ellen Waithe, (1987), ''A History of Women Philosophers. Volume 1, 600 BC-500 AD'', Springer, pp. 15–17.

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* {{Authority control 6th-century BC Greek people 5th-century BC Greek people 6th-century BC Greek women 5th-century BC Greek women 6th-century BC philosophers Ancient Greek women philosophers Presocratic philosophers Ancient Crotonians Pythagoreans of Magna Graecia