ARCHYTAS of Tarentum, a philosopher of the Pythagorean sect, and famous for being the master of Plato, Eudoxas, and Philolaus, lived about 408 years before Christ. He was an excellent mathematician, particularly in that part of the science which regards mechanics: he is said to have made a wooden pigeon that could fly, and to be the first that brought down mathematics to common uses. He is said to be the inventor of the ten categories. He asserted, that God was the beginning, the supporter, and the end, of all things. There are two epistles preserved in Diogenes Laertius, one from Archytas to Plato, and another from Plato to Archytas. He acquired great reputation in his legislative capacity. He likewise commanded the army seven times, and was never defeated; but was at last cast away in the Adriatic Sea, and thrown upon the coast of Apulia.