Hypatia of Alexandria was a Greek intellectual and teacher in Alexandria, Egypt, known for mathematics and philosophy: born about 350 to 370 AD, died 416 AD. #CelebratingWomen
She was the daughter of Theon of Alexandria, a teacher of mathematics with the Museum of Alexandria in Egypt. A center of Greek intellectual and cultural life, the Museum included many independent schools as well as the great library of Alexandria.
Hypatia herself taught at the Neoplatonist school of philosophy. She became the salaried director of this school in 400. She wrote about mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.
She is also said to have invented the plane astrolabe, the graduated brass hydrometer and the hydroscope, with Synesius of Greece, who was initially her student and later, her colleague.
Hypatia dressed in the clothing of a scholar or teacher, rather than in women's clothing. She moved about freely, driving her own chariot, which was contrary to the norm for women's public behaviour.
She was credited by contemporary sources as having great political influence in the city, especially with Orestes, the Roman governor of Alexandria.
Hypatia's death was a result of a conflict between Orestes and Cyril, who was later made a saint of the church. According to Scholasticus, an order of Orestes to control Jewish celebrations met with approval by Christians, then to violence between the Christians and the Jews.
As a learned woman associated with Orestes, Hypatia became the target of Christian propaganda, and was eventually murdered by a mob of Christian zealots, incited to violence by Cyril.
According to sources, they dragged her from her chariot, stripped her, killed and dismembered her, scattered her body parts through the streets, and burned some of her remains in the library of Caesareum.
This was felt to be justified because she "beguiled the people of the city and the prefect through her enchantments" - accusations often levelled by the early Christians at powerful women.
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