Who was Hypatia of Alexandria?

Hypatia was a Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who lived during the turbulent time of Alexandria, Egypt’s past. She is best known for being the earliest female mathematician. Hypatia of Alexandria was born in 355 CE and died in March of 415 in Alexandria. Theon of Alexandria, Hypatia’s father, was

considered one of the most educated men in Egypt. Theon raised and trained Hypatia as a mathematician and eventually replaced him as the leading mathematician of Alexandria. She never married since she ended up devoting her whole life to being celibate. Although she was a pagan, she was still tolerant towards Christians and taught many Christian students such as Synesius, the future bishop of Ptolemais.

Her great influence with the political elite in Alexandria was widely beloved by many pagans and Christians. During her time she lectured and taught regarding philosophical and astronomical topics, attracting many students with her philosophy Neoplatonist. The Neoplatonic school taught that everything in the world comes from the One. This brought Neoplatonism to be seen as pagan during the times of immense conflict between Christians and “heretical”/orthodox Jews. Her philosophy ended up being her downfall as she ended up being murdered by a mob of Christians led by a lector named Peter. Christian writers were always hostile towards her, depicting her as a witch. Hypatia’s murder shocked the empire and during the age of Enlightenment she became the symbol of opposition to Catholicism. Since then, she has become a powerful symbol of feminism as well as a figure of strength for intellectual explorations in the face of major adversity.

Author Sofia Maurer

Editor Suhh Yeon Kim