Archytas of Tarentum was a Greek philosopher, mathematician, and statesman of the 4th century BCE. He is considered the last major figure of the Pythagorean school. Archytas was also a highly successful political leader in his home city of Tarentum in southern Italy, where he was elected general an unprecedented seven times.

His surviving writings are fragmentary. Known works include On Sciences, concerning the classification of knowledge, and Harmonics, where he correctly argued that musical pitch is determined by the speed of sound. He is most famous in mathematics for solving the problem of "doubling the cube" through an ingenious three-dimensional geometric construction.

Archytas holds significant historical importance as a bridge between traditions. He was a contemporary and friend of Plato, and ancient sources report he helped Plato leave Sicily. According to modern scholars, his ideas about applying mathematics to understand the natural world and structure a just society likely influenced Platonic philosophy. His career embodies the Pythagorean ideal of the philosopher-statesman who applies scientific principles to public life.