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| Hypatia of Alexandria Hypatia of Alexandria was misunderstood and a woman born before her time. She lived in a time where women were not heard and she could not help but be heard. Because of Hypatia’s genius thoughts and ways, she was killed. Hypatia was born around 370 AD. She was born in Alexandria and remained there her whole life. Her father was Theon, a mathematician and philosopher. Her father taught her about philosophy and math. Because Hypatia was smarter than her father, she continued her studies and was said to be the first woman to make a substantial contribution to the development of mathematics. Hypatia was a mathematician, astronomer, and Platonic philosopher. At around age 30 she became head of the Plutonist school at Alexandria. While she taught she became close to her students, and it was said that Hypatia had a special gift touching people and forming a friendly relationship with them. During her time at the Plutonist school at Alexandria, she lectured on mathematics and philosophy. She taught about the philosophy of Neoplatonism, which later killed her. Plotinus was the founder of Neoplatonism. He believed that there is a reality that was above and beyond humans’ knowledge or speech. He also believed that this reality was our goal in life, which we could never reach. Hypatia took this idea and taught it to her students with a greater scientific emphasis. Because of the way Hypatia taught and believed, she was known for being a charismatic teacher. Hypatia was loved and worshipped by many people. She was praised by her students. She was not only a wonderful teacher, but also an excellent writer. She wrote a commentary on Arithmetica of Diophantus, Conics of Apollonius, and the astronomical works of Ptolemy. It is believed that she helped her father in producing Ptolemy’s Almagest, and a new version of Euclid’s Elements. Hypatia was killed because of envy and her wisdom regarding astronomy. Cyril, who was a bishop of Alexandria, was envious of Hypatia because the people loved her. He made the people believe untrue things about her. Soon people saw her as a distant, non-Christian who used witchcraft to hurt people and make people follow her and her ways. Christians began to feel that Hypatia was a pagan and a witch. Around 415 AD, a band of angry Christian monks took Hypatia from the street, beat her and drug her body to a church where they mutilated her flesh with sharp tiles and burned her remains. She was only around the age of 45. Hypatia was a woman before her time. She was a very bright woman who was smart in mathematics and philosophy. In a way, Hypatia formed a religion that, at the time, people could not handle. She was killed because of the way she thought and believed. Men thought of her as a threat because she was a female. Hypatia has been dead for over 1,500 years, and she is still looked at as a wonderful philosopher and mathematician. Hypatia will always be known for her religious beliefs. She had to die because of them. She is a good example of how religious beliefs mean more than religion. Religion counteracts with everyday life just as math, or anything would. Math and religion were a big part of Hypatia’s life, and they will continue to be for everyone. |