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Hypatia is known for many things, all of which were very impressive considering the time period she lived in, 350-370 AD in Alexandria, and that she was a woman. Not only does her success make her famous but also does her death, for she was murdered by Zealots.
Zealots were a group of people, or a sect, that resisted the Romans and led them to despise the Jews who wanted peace with them. This political movement was attached to the deaths of around 10,000 Jewish people, either murdered or sold as slaves for not following them, Hypatia being one of them. Christian fanatics were the ones who killed Hypatia because of her influence towards a female philosopher and astronomer as well as her beliefs. The Zealots, also called Christian Fanatics, followed Bishop Cyril and his thinking. Hypatia’s death was so significant and important because it marked the end of the feud between the Christians and the Romans.
Hypatia had many accomplishments before her demise. She was known to be an impeccable speaker and scholar. Her knowledge in mathematics and astronomy was also flawless. With her knowledge in mathematics and astronomy, Hypatia invented the astrolabe. This device allows someone to find the latitude by measuring the angles on a vertical plane. Which allowed ships to sail afar having reduced chances of getting lost. Though this wasn’t her only invention, it is said that she invented the hydrometer, this device measures a fluid's density.
Though, you might ask yourself how a woman was able to become so well educated and supported. This was all thanks to her father, Theon of Alexandria. Her father was the keeper of a library in Egypt and a mathematics teacher from the Museum of Alexandria, as well as an astronomer and mathematician. Being such an influential man with a high social status, Hypatia was able to receive an education. Hypatia’s father taught her everything he knew, and she grew an interest in the subjects. Her lessons included literature, arts, science, mathematics, and philosophy. The reason why Theon taught her was because he wanted to have a “perfect human”, to him it meant someone mentally and physically healthy.
Hypatia was one of the first women to learn and practise a ‘men’s’ job. She was part of the first women to start shifting the ideals of a woman towards society, showing they can be as smart as men. Although her life was cut a bit short from her death, her accomplishments acted as the first step towards women having more opportunities and freedom in life. Hypatia continued to influence many long after her death, even to this day. Hypatia was never recorded to be married, nor did she believe in marriage. She believed mathematics to have spiritual aspects. These included geometry, music, astronomy, and arithmetics. Hypatia saw numbers as a language that could explain the universe. Lastly, Hypatia believed and said, “Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all”.
Sources:
“Hypatia of Alexandria | Life | Contribution| Death.” Cuemath, www.cuemath.com/learn/mathematics/geometry-hypatia-of-alexandria. Accessed 13 Sept. 2022.
This website will tell you more about Hypatia’s private life. This includes further information about her death, contributions to mathematics in more details, and more details about her personal life. This article is well organised and easy to understand with clear information.
Hilfrank, Elizabeth. “Hypatia.” History, 25 Feb. 2021, kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/women-heroes/article/hypatia.
This source provides well detailed information regarding Hypatia. This includes more details about her private life, what she did as a living for her father, the impacts she had on society, inventions, contributions to Neoplatonism, and what she did towards women. In this source you will also see a statue of Hypatia. This is probably at most a 3-5 minute.
Hypatia. mathwomen.agnesscott.org/women/hypatia.htm. Accessed 15 Sept. 2022.
In this source you will also be able to learn about Hypatia’s life but also another contribution she made on the Apollonius and writing works she did. There is also a quick mention in the end about who carried on her work, this includes Descartes, Newton, and Leibniz.
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