Hypatia Theonis f.

Hypatia Theonis, mathematici et astronomi Alexandrini, filia fuit, nata fortasse circa annum CCCLX p.C.n.; tempus incertum est. Patrem superavit et philosophiam Platonicam, quam Plotinus tradiderat, cum mathematica et astronomia et publice et discipulis privatim docuit. Socrates, historicus ecclesiasticus, eam omnes sui temporis philosophos longe superasse tradit, et magistratus eam consulere solitos esse.

Hypatia was the daughter of Theon, a mathematician and astronomer of Alexandria, and was born perhaps about A.D. 360; the date is uncertain. She surpassed her father and taught Platonic philosophy in the tradition of Plotinus, together with mathematics and astronomy, both in public and to private pupils. The church historian Socrates says that she far surpassed all the philosophers of her time and that the magistrates used to consult her.

Discipulus eius clarissimus, Synesius Cyrenaeus, postea episcopus, eam 'matrem, sororem, magistram, beneficam' appellavit, libros suos ei iudicandos misit et hydroscopium sibi fieri rogavit. Commentarium patris in astronomiam Ptolemaei recensuit, et Suda ei commentarios in Diophantum, in Conica Apollonii, in canonem astronomicum tribuit; nihil eius superest.

Her most famous pupil, Synesius of Cyrene, later a bishop, wrote to her as 'mother, sister, teacher and benefactress', sent her his books for judgment and asked her to have a hydrometer made for him. She revised her father's commentary on Ptolemy's astronomy, and the Suda credits her with commentaries on Diophantus, on Apollonius' Conics and on an astronomical canon; none of her own works survives.

Mense Martio anni CCCCXV, cum Orestes, praefectus Aegypti, cui amica erat, cum Cyrillo episcopo dissideret, rumor eam reconciliationi obstare criminatus est. Turba Christianorum, duce Petro quodam lectore, eam e carpento detractam in ecclesia trucidavit et corpus combussit. Socrates, ipse Christianus, facinus damnavit. Posteriorum fabulae multa ei dicta tribuerunt quae numquam scripsit.

In March 415, during the conflict between Orestes, the prefect of Egypt, with whom she was on friendly terms, and the bishop Cyril, rumour blamed her for preventing their reconciliation. A Christian mob led by a church reader named Peter dragged her from her carriage, killed her in a church and burned her body. Socrates, himself a Christian, condemned the deed. Later legend has credited her with many sayings she never wrote.

1. c. 360 p.C.n.c. A.D. 360Alexandriae nascitur (tempus incertum).Born at Alexandria (date uncertain).
2. c. 393 p.C.n.c. A.D. 393Synesius eius discipulus fit.Synesius becomes her pupil.
3. 412 p.C.n.A.D. 412Cyrillus episcopus Alexandrinus fit.Cyril becomes bishop of Alexandria.
4. c. 413 p.C.n.c. A.D. 413Synesius ultimas ad eam epistulas scribit.Synesius writes his last letters to her.
5. 415 p.C.n.A.D. 415Mense Martio a turba occiditur.Killed by a mob in March.