One never hears about great women philosophers and scientists of ancient times there are so few and eclipsed by famous male counterparts. Hypatia, a woman of notable intelligence and courage, however, stands out in history regardless of the lack of information and conflicting reports. A brilliant young lady, she rose as one of the best thinkers in her time and fell to an abrupt gruesome death. Hypatia of Alexandria is considered as one of the best and last Alexandrian philosopher and mathematician.

Hypatia is believed to have been born in 370 AD, but some historians argue that rather she was born in 355 AD. Her father, Theon, a Professor of Mathematics at the Museum, also known as the University of Alexandria, who taught mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy; and was an extraordinary man; believed that his daughter should be liberally educated in the important subjects. He made sure that Hypatia was taught the leading math, astronomy, philosophy, and astrology of her day. The young girl quickly mastered any subject that she studied and eventually surpassed her father in his own fields. Socrates once made the comment, "...After being educated by her father, Hypatia came to surpass both contemporary and later intellectuals in mathematical knowledge."

Records claim that Hypatia was a beautiful, chaste, righteous woman. Theon was supposed to have married to create the perfect human being, the result being Hypatia in beauty, intelligence, and virtues. It is even said that he used charts, theorems, and formulas in his attempt. Hypatia throughout her life captured the attention and admiration of the community and school.

Hypatia taught in Alexandria Neo-Platonism, an ethical ethos against the speculative; mathematics, thought to be mainly geometry; astronomy, and astrology. Her teachings were well-known; students from all over came to listen to her oratories on intellectual subjects. The young woman earned great respect through her composure and erudition from all groups--except those of the Church. Theon, an outstanding scholar himself, referred to his daughter proudly as "his Philosopher-daughter."

Despite her success, Hypatia made several enemies, the most powerful one a high member of the Roman Catholic Church. In Hypatia’s lifetime, Christianity was gaining power through the Church; Hypatia was a pagan who believed in reviving the old worship of the Greek gods and goddesses. Bishop Cyril, her main nemesis who came into power in 412 AD, was intensely jealous of her persuasion power of important political figures and success. Despite her many Christian students, he labeled her as a pagan heretic and ultimately brought about her death.

The most famous aspect of Hypatia’s life is her macabre murder by a group of men in March of 415 AD. Most records agree that she was on her way to a lecture; while Hypatia was traveling, men rushed to warn her of the impeding danger. She proudly replied, "Shall the daughter of Theon show fear?" and went about her way. Unfortunately, what was warned of came to pass as true.

A mob of men, supposed to be Christian zealots led by Peter the Reader and urged on by Bishop Cyril, charged Hypatia’s chariot and dragged her inside, ironically, a nearby cathedral. They stripped her, scraped her flesh off her bones with bits of pottery, knives, oyster shells, and anything else they could use. After her mutilation, the rabble burned her remains. Bishop Cyril was determined not to stop there.

The bishop ordered all of Hypatia’s written works to be pulled out of the libraries and burned. Only titles and references of her works remain. Few letters and commentaries in other works that allude to her accomplishments remain despite the burnings--but precious little remains. Hypatia is believed to have made significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy. Several letters exchanged with a student, Synesius, refer to the development of a hydroscope and astrolabe. She is believed to have also written a commentary in Ptolemy’s Book III of the Almagest with Theon, Diophantus’s Arithmetica, Apollonius’s Conics, and additional astronomical works of Ptolemy. In Conics, Hypatia wrote on cones divided by planes into different parts, hyperbolas, parabolas, and ellipses; making the concepts easier to understand for many people.

Even though many of her works do not exist anymore, Hypatia’s contributions to the field of science were commendable. Newton, Descartes, and Leibniz expanded further upon her works. Hypatia, rightly considered as one of the greatest women philosophers and scientist of her time, left her mark upon the world.

Written by Sumin