This is an unusual break in the story for a piece of this time. This is what some people call "breaking the fourth wall" today. It is essentially an aside and it is not often done.Breaks like this are "rhetorical, organizational, and stylisitc" and they give an insight into the author's tone.

Berkenkotter, Carol. “Understanding a Writer’s Awareness of Audience.” College Composition and Communication, vol. 32, no. 4, 1981, pp. 388–99. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/356601. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Pythagoras was one of the most influential people in history. His influence on mathematics -- and the world which depends on it -- has been evident hundreds of years after his era. However, it is clear that Pythagoras' mathematics was not what the author is referencing, but rather his, "exhortation to abide by a moral code". This theme is also evident when the author mentions Ovid and Metamorphoses as Ovid was references Pythagoras in many of his writings.

Swanson, Roy Arthur. “Ovid’s Pythagorean Essay.” The Classical Journal, vol. 54, no. 1, 1958, pp. 21–24. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3295324. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Throughout the entire work, the author utilizes alliteration to provide emphasis The story -- considered a narrative poem -- includes many examples of such types of literary devices. It is interesting trying to consider how the author wanted to incorporate alliteration into such a "metrical form."

FINLAYSON, JOHN. “ALLITERATIVE NARRATIVE POETRY: THE CONTROL OF THE MEDIUM.” Traditio, vol. 44, 1988, pp. 419–51. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27831229. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.

Seating at the round table was very important. Although today it seems trivial to have assigned seating at the dinner table, it was seen as of the upmost importance. In fact, there would always be "a vacant seat reserved for him who shall accomplish the adventures of the Grail."

Mott, Lewis F. “The Round Table.” PMLA, vol. 20, no. 2, 1905, pp. 231–64. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/456625. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.

This actually references mythology with the origin story of Rome -- the story of Romulus and Remus. The story was viewed as a supernatural way to describe a natural phenomenon and we can see it in Greek and Norse mythology.

Donlan, Walter. “The Foundation Legends of Rome: An Example of Dynamic Process.” The Classical World, vol. 64, no. 4, 1970, pp. 109–14. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/4347339. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.

Many people in the ancient world would not seek to "disturb, re-use, or rob" children's graves as they, "were less likely to contain the costly items tomb robbers sought." Many children's burial forms were small and, therefore, seemed worthless to thieves. So, Medea was not concerned with the sanctity of her children's graves because of the commonality of grave-robbing, but because she knew that the townspeople in Corinth would be displeased with her actions. But even though the Corinthians might have vengeance for their leader's murder, the chorus "treats her sympathetically" and would not desecrate Medea's children's bodies. It is more likely that Medea believed that, "someone who treacherously murders should offer his victim's extremities to the chthonic gods" and offered her children to Hera in that respect. source: Holland, Lora L. “Last Act in Corinth: The Burial of Medea’s Children (E. Med. 1378-83).” The Classical Journal, vol. 103, no. 4, 2008, pp. 407–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30038003. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024.

While the Gita is well-known as a religious text in the religion of Hinduism, other newer belief systems have utilized its philosophies as a doctrine in their religion. The Swadhyaya movement started in mid-20th century India and, "emphasizes self-study (swadhyaya), selfless devotion (bhakti) and application of Indian scriptures." Similar to the way Ghandi interpreted the Bhagavad Gita, the members of the Swadhyaya movement interpret the text in a spiritually metaphorical sense. They exercise the text for, "spiritual, social and economic liberation." Source: https://dbpedia.org/page/Swadhyaya_Movement