o She was born in the fourth century in Alexandria of Egypt.

Which was part

of the Roman Empire. It is not known of his mother, only of his father
Theon, instructor, mathematician and astronomer, transcribed texts,
commented on them and was director of the second library of Alexandria
belonging to the museum (the Serapeus), founded by the dynasty of the
Ptolemies.

o In mathematics, Theon delved into The Elements of Euclid, which was the basis of the geometry
of Antiquity and would continue to be so until the 19th century. In his review of this work, Hypatia
was mentioned as a disciple and an associate, which could indicate that they produced it together.
Hypatia also carried out a mathematical analysis of the movements of the stars described by
Ptolemy in Las Tablas or Astronomical Canon.

o Hypatia maintained throughout her life the heliocentric thesis and the observations made in
Tenon's Commentaries on Book III of the Almagest that questions Ptolemy's geocentric theory. It is
quite possible that Copernicus read it when he was studying Ptolemy's work. That would imply
that Hypatia's work has a direct influence on the Copernican Revolution.

o Various sources such as the ecclesiastical chronicler Filostorgio, Hesiquio and Damascio, point
out that Hypatia stood out above her father in talent and scientific achievements.

or... There was a woman in Alexandria whose name was Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher
Theon, who found such achievements in literature and science, that she far surpassed all the
philosophers of her own time. Socrates Scholasticus

o Furthermore, Socrates the Scholastic writes: “He reached such a level of culture that he
surpassed all contemporary philosophers, he inherited the Platonic school that had been renewed
in the time of Plotinus, and he explained all the philosophical sciences to those who wanted it.
That is why those who want to think philosophically flocked to her from everywhere. It is
interesting that mention that he "inherited the school", that is, the teaching of the Platonic
doctrine renewed by the philosopher Plotinus, which we know as Neoplatonism.

(Neoplatonism is the reworking or reinterpretation of Plato's philosophical thought, the

neoplatonic trinity or Gnostic thought).

o Hypatia of Alexandria was a mathematical philosopher and astronomer. She was a prestigious
teacher in the neoplatonic school

o In her classes he focused on mathematical knowledge with philosophical conclusions.

o According to the letters written by one of her most faithful disciples, Bishop Synesius of Cyrene,
the classes were dialogues in which she discussed with the students about philosophy,
mathematics, astronomy, ethics and religion (in the religious branch she referred to paganism and
the non-religious intellectual).

She was also a teacher and friend of Orestes, the prefect (that is, governor) of Alexandria, who
was a Christian and advocated peaceful coexistence among all cultures and religions.
o Thanks to the writings of her disciples, it is known that she made a celestial planisphere. An
astrolabe that measures the position of the stars. A Hydrometer that measures the weight of
liquids. A hydroscope that measures the level of water and she was a pioneer in the creation of a
hydrometer that is used to determine the relative density of liquids. probably all were destroyed
or lost.

o He always manifested a rational stance against the Hellenic tradition and stayed away
from the continuous disputes between pagans and Christians that were taking place at
that time in Alexandria.

o o She practiced Celibacy, it means that she never achieved or had a relationship she
believed was carnal love, instead the philosophy was sublime love.
o o Where he did take sides was in municipal affairs, exerting his influence in the political
sphere and in the high aristocracy. She was known and respected for her ethical values
and wisdom, and political representatives, pagan and Christian, frequently resorted to her
advice.
o o Since Emperor Theodosius I had proclaimed Christianity the only religion of the Empire,
the ecclesiastical power had been installed in the cities and they were going to reduce
them to paganism. This is how, instigated by Bishop Theophilus, these fanatics caused
great damage to various pagan sanctuaries, and in the year 391 they looted and burned
the famous Serapeus and its splendid library. The Serapis temple, a glorious emblem of
the city for centuries, was converted into a Christian church, as was the Caesarean, an
ancient temple dedicated to the cult of the emperor. Those who refused to convert to the
dominant faith suffered Christian siege.
o o October 17, 412 was the beginning of the end of the Alexandrian dream. Cyril was
elected Bishop of Alexandria, and from then on the situation changed radically. Some of
the Christians in Egypt opposed his appointment because of his intolerant ideas. Nor did
Orestes share Cyril's vision of religious affairs, who attacked all religious groups that did
not accept the imposed Christianity under the pretext of purifying the faith. Alexandria
plunged into a climate of extreme violence. The murders between groups of different
beliefs happened continuously. His brutal murder stages the transition from classical
reasoning to medieval obscurantism.
o o For Cyril, the influence of Hypatia among the high officials of imperial and municipal
politics, represented a threat. She envied the social prestige he enjoyed among the upper
social classes of Alexandria. He tried to convince Orestes so that Hypatia would not have
more contributions in politics, he would not agree to a group of fanatics who hit him on
the head with a stone.
o o For this reason, he began to launch a smear campaign against her, presenting her as a
dangerous witch given over to black magic who had bewitched Orestes to confront the
Christians, among whom, the philosopher, created atheists. The spread of these
falsehoods caused the bad atmosphere among the people to reach such an extreme that,
in March 415, a group of fanatical Christians led by a certain Peter took her out of the
chariot, left her totally naked, brutally killed her with fragments pottery and burned their
remains as was the custom of the Christians at that time.
o o To finish, I share with you two texts that narrate the end of Hypatia so that you can
compare them and assess their objectivity. The first is the testimony of Socrates
Scholasticus, a contemporary Christian historian of Hypatia; the second is from John,
Bishop of Nikiu two centuries later:
o o He fell victim to the political intrigues that prevailed at that time. As she had frequent
interviews with Orestes (the Prefect of Alexandria), it was slanderously proclaimed among
the Christian populace that it was she who prevented Orestes from reconciling himself
with the bishop (Cyril). Some of them, forming part of a fierce and fanatical mob, whose
leader was a certain Pedro (Pedro el Lector), apprehended her on the way home, and
dragging her from her car, they took her to a church called Cesareo, where they stripped
her naked. completely, and they killed her with roof tiles (the original Greek word,
ostrakoi, makes it unclear whether it was roof tiles or oysters). After dismembering his
body, they took his remains to a place called Cinaron, and burned them there. This affair
brought down the greatest opprobrium, not only on Cyril, but on the entire church of
Alexandria. And surely nothing can be further from the Christian spirit that allows
massacres, fights and acts of this type. This happened in the month of March during Lent,
in the fourth year of Cyril's episcopate, under the tenth consulship of Honorius and the
sixth of Theodosius.
o Socrates Scholasticus (5th century AD). Ecclesiastical history. Book VI, chapter 15
o … A multitude of believers in God arose led by Peter the Magistrate, and proceeded to
search for the pagan woman who had deceived the people of the city and the prefect
(Orestes) with her incantations. And when she found the place where she was, they went
to look for her and found her comfortable sitting; having made her descend from it, they
dragged her all the way to the main church, called Cesareo. This happened in the days of
Lent. She ripped her clothes off and dragged her through the streets of the city until she
caused her death. They took her to a place called Cinaron and burned her body. Everyone
surrounded the Patriarch Cyril and hailed him as “the new Theophilus”, since he had
finished with the last remnants of idolatry in the city.
o John, Bishop of Nikiu. Chronicle 84.87-103