A Brutally Murdered Scientist: Hypatia

Hypatia, known as Hypatia of Alexandria, was a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. His father, Theon, a Greek scholar, had a great role in Hypatia’s interest in science and self-improvement. Theon never allowed his daughter to live according to prevalent dogma ideas. With the support of his father, she adopted the idea of ”reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all”.

After receiving her primary education from her father, she went to Athens to continue her education. Later, she returned to Alexandria and followed her father on the library’s faculty. Became the head of the school there. She advocated Plato’s ideas. This school was open to everyone, regardless of faith or philosophical view. It was a philosophy school that aimed to transfer the knowledge obtained throughout human history to philosophers and then to society.

Hypatia’s contributions to science

She tried to explain nature with logic, mathematics, and experiments. She developed her own unique calculation methods using Babylon’s sexagesimal (base 60) numbers and an abacus-like calculator.  Worked on algebraic equations and conic sections. She found that the Astrolabe can be used for ship navigation. She also invented devices for measuring the density of fluids. In addition to that, she wrote many books on mathematics and astronomy. She made it lawful that every book entering the city should be lent to the library for a copy. With this law, she collected 700,000 books in Alexandria library during that period. If Hypatia and her father were not in such an effort, the works of important mathematicians such as Ptolemy and Euclid would not have reached to the present.

Death of Hypatia

Hypatia was a Neoplatonist, -rationalist-.  Moreover, the library of Alexandria were one of the important obstacles to Christianity. The hatred of the paganism of her outweighed the hatred of her gender. Because of this hatred, many scholars turned from Paganism to Christianity to avoid religious enmity. Despite all, Hypatia continued to teach Pagan beliefs, which made her eventually a target for violence.

Cyril, who was the patriarch of Alexandria at that time, provoked the public by describing Hypatia as “atheist” and “devil”. He also wanted to convince the congregation that Hypatia was vile. For this purpose, quoted the Bible and said: ” … 11 A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve …”. Thus and so, he ordered the death of the Hypatia.

On 8 March 415, a crowd of people grabbed Hypatia and dragged her to the church. They set her on fire after they murdered her mercilessly in the church. This incident caused a great chaos in the city. While the Platonist School also disappeared along with the Hypatia, the patriarch of Alexandria, Cyril, who caused Hypatia to be lynched, was declared as ‘saint’ because he cleansed the city from the pagans.

Despite all her contributions to the science, Coptic Bishop of Nikiû, Ioannis, stated for Hypatia: “Hypatia was a Hellenistic pagan. She always adhered to magic, astrolabe and musical instruments. She also deceived people with devilish tricks.” however, not all Christians hated Hypatia. On the contrary, some Christians considered Hypatia as a symbol of virtue and chastity.

Socrates Scholasticus

Socrates Scholasticus, a historian, described the death of Hypatia in his work “Historia Ecclesiastica” as follows; ”They forcefully uncoach Hypatia from a two-wheeled carriage. Took her to the church they called the Caesarium, and robbed her violently. Then they destroyed her face, took out Hypatia’s eyes and blinded her. Smashed her body with sharp ostracons until she took her last breath. Then they cut her body into four parts and took these four to a place they called Cinaron. Then burned her to ashes.”

The life and murder of Hypatia has been the subject of many novels and poems and has been turned into a legend.

References;

https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi215.htm

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228609702_Theon_of_Alexandria_and_Hypatia