Hypatia

For centuries, the name Hypatia of Alexandria has conjured an image of radiant intellect—a martyr for science, a feminist icon, and a beacon of reason murdered by a fanatical mob in a world descending into darkness. But who was the real woman behind this powerful and persistent myth? HYPATIA: A Beginner's Guide embarks on a historical investigation to uncover the true story of this extraordinary figure from late antiquity. Moving beyond the popular legend, this book peels back the layers of accumulated myth to reveal a life far more nuanced and deeply intertwined with the volatile world of the late Roman Empire. Inside, you will discover: The Crucible on the Nile: A vivid portrait of Alexandria in the 4th and 5th centuries CE—a multicultural metropolis of unparalleled intellectual brilliance and dangerous sectarian violence. Forged in Her Father's School: The story of Hypatia's unique and rigorous education in philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy under her father, Theon, and her collaboration on seminal editions of Euclid and Ptolemy. The Woman in the Philosopher's Cloak: How Hypatia rose to become the respected head of Alexandria's Neoplatonist school, a celebrated public intellectual who commanded authority in a male-dominated world. Keeper of the Canon: An exploration of her known contributions as a commentator on the advanced mathematics of Diophantus and Apollonius and her practical skill in constructing scientific instruments like the astrolabe. Two Kings in One City: The bitter political war for control of Alexandria between her close ally, the Roman Prefect Orestes, and the ambitious and ruthless Bishop Cyril. Death in the Cathedral: A critical analysis of the ancient sources that reveal her brutal murder in 415 CE not as a simple act of religious fanaticism, but as a calculated political assassination. A Symbol for Every Age: Trace Hypatia's fascinating "afterlife," from an Enlightenment symbol of reason versus superstition to a modern icon of science and feminism, and learn why her story, in both its true and mythic forms, continues to captivate the modern imagination. This guide separates the complex historical figure from the enduring symbol, offering a clear, accessible, and historically grounded account of one of antiquity's most remarkable women.