The Death of Pythagoras

Pythagoras taught the metaphysical doctrine known as metam psychosis, which is usually translated into english as the transmigration of souls. The pythagoreans believed that there was an immaterial and immortal soul that was separate from the body. And if you were to eat a chicken or a cow, you might literally be cannibalizing a dead relative. It's been speculated that he could have acquired it from indian thought during his travels.