From Nick Greene,
Your Guide to Space / Astronomy.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Hypatia of Alexandria was a mathematician, astronomer, and Platonic philosopher. "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all," she is credited with saying. "To teach superstitions as truth is a most terrible thing."

The daughter of Theon, last head of the Museum at Alexandria, Hypatia was born around 370AD in Alexandria, Egypt, then under the control of Greece. She studied mathematics under the guidance and instruction of her father. She became head of the Platonist school at Alexandria in about 400 AD, where she lectured on mathematics and philosophy.

Like many ancient scientists, little remains of Hypatia's original works. Most of what we know is from the writing of others about or to her. Apparently, Hypatia did not perform original mathematical research, but rather she assisted her father, Theon of Alexandria. She was very helpful on his eleven part commentary on Ptolemy's Almagest as well as in his production of a new version of Euclid's Elements which became the basis for all later editions of Euclid.

Besides all her assistance to her her father, it is said that Hypatia wrote commentaries on Diophantus's Arithmetica, on Apollonius's Conics and on Ptolemy's astronomical works. Although her own written work is gone except for titles, evidence of her work exists in the writings of others. Some letters from Synesius to Hypatia to Hypatia ask her advice on the construction of an astrolabe and a hydroscope.

Those were explosive times in Alexandria during Hypatia's life. Early Christianity was in a struggle for the possesion of the hearts and minds of the people, even while divided itself on which path to take. Hypatia, herself, was a pagan, and as such hated by many Christian leaders, while she was loved and admired by others.

Cyril, who was a leader among the Christians opposed Orestes, the civil governor. Because Hypatia was friends with the governor, it is believed that Cyril spread many viscious rumors about her. Eventually, the conflict between the Christians and pagans boiled over.

Some time in the Spring of 415. as she returned to her home, Hypatia was attacked by a mob (some say of over-zealous monks). They stripped her and dragged her through the streets, beating and mutilating her with shards of pottery. In the end, her body was burned. How much of this torment took place before she died is unknown.

Full Size Images

• Hypatia of Alexandria (Image 1)
• Hypatia of Alexandria (Image 2)