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November 22, 2018, Hypatia

Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in ancient Alexandria, Egypt, Hypatia believed one should "reserve her right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all."

Born in any century, Hypatia would have been a super woman. Two thousand years ago, she was the leading mathematician and philosopher in Alexandria and the known world despite being a female. Hypatia is not the earliest female scientist, but she is the first about whom so much is know.

Hypatia was born about 355 AD to Theon of Alexandria, a mathematician and astronomer who was the last attested member of the Library of Alexandria. Sadly, her mother's name is not known. Hypatia, a pagan, was respected and consulted by Jews, Christians and Pagans.

The Library of Alexandria was destroyed by at least one earthquake and several fires, the last set by the army of Julius Caesar. Scholars then used the smaller daughter library at the Serapeum of Alexandria, a Pagan temple, until it was destroyed in 391 AD by Coptic Pope Theophilus.

Although many men pursued her, Hypatia chose to remain unmarried and childless in order to devote her time to her work. She advanced knowledge in mathematics and astronomy and continued the work her father had begun.

Rome sent Orestes to govern Alexandria. Orestes had heard of Hypatia and was eager to meet her. They became close friends and Orestes often consult with her. The new bishop, Cyril, resented Hypatia and Orestes' relationship. He wanted Orestes to listen only to him.

Bishop Cyril told people that Hypatia was a witch and cast spells on the important people of Alexandria in order to control them. In March of 415 a mob of Christians, including monks, pulled the sixty-year-old woman from her chariot and skinned her alive using oyster shells and/or roof tiles before murdering her on the floor of a Christian church. They believed that without her skin, she could not have an after life.

Hypatia was so amazing that it would take a book to tell all, or at least most, about this amazing woman.

Reference

Wikipedia

Britannica

Super Women in Science by Kelly Di Domenico

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