Hypatia of Alexandria

Top 10 Portrayals of Hypatia of Alexandria

Submitted by MalcolmJ on Mon, 09/14/2009 - 13:22

The School of Athens by Raphael. Image credit - Justin Norris.Greek polymath Hypatia of Alexandria was a genius mathematician, philosopher, astronomer and all round pioneering female intellectual. Her influence and beauty are legendary. Sadly, Hypatia was also pagan at a time when Christianity was becoming increasingly de rigueur, and she suffered a grim execution in 415 AD at the hands of some angry monks.

Her life and death is set to be the subject of a new big-budget motion picture, Agora, directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Rachel Weisz. Ahead of the film’s release, we give a chronological run down of ten top portrayals of Hypatia, in literature, art, comic books and on stage and in movie.

1. Historia Ecclesiastica (439 AD)
Socrates Scholasticus

Highlighted Quote: 
Kingsley depicted Hypatia as a “helpless, pretentious and erotic heroine.” Ooh er.
About The AuthorMalcolm Jack
Malcolm Jack
Last three pieces by this author:
University of Sussex Cutbacks: Protests, Riot Police and Strike Action | Anglo-Saxon CSI: Archaeologists Stumped by Mystery Saxon Find | Latin Lovers: Bettany Hughes Helps Boris Johnson Launch 'Classics for Schools'
Malcolm Jack is a freelance arts and entertainment journalist based in Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2004 with an MA Honours Degree in History.
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Hypatia of Alexandria

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Martyred Philosopher, Mathematician, Astronomer and Feminist Pioneer
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Hypatia was a 4th and 5th century AD philosopher, mathematician, astrologer and scientist, and one of the most famous female intellectuals in history.

She was born in Alexandria, Egypt around 350 AD, the daughter of Theon, who was the curator of the Museum of Alexandria, an important seat of learning in the Roman Empire. Theon schooled Hypatia as his star pupil from a young age, and she demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for maths, philosophy, astronomy and technological sciences. After travelling to Athens and Italy to further her studies, she returned to Alexandria, where she became a highly-respected teacher, lecturer, writer and inventor. She penned many well-thought-of commentaries in collaboration with her father, and was appointed Director of the Neoplatonist School of Alexandria in 400 AD. Hypatia was by all accounts (although few of them survive) extremely beautiful, and had many suitors from the great and good of Alexandria society, but she rejected them all, and reportedly remained chaste throughout her life.

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Agora, a Film on the Life of Philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria

Submitted by Ann on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 19:00

Agora - Hypatia of Alexandria - Movie PosterTo be released in October 2009, the Hollywood-made film Agora - set in Alexandria, Egypt, 391 AD, directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Rachel Weisz - about the life and death of the Greek scholar Hypatia of Alexandria should be next in the long line of 'historically correct' blockbusters that succeed at capturing the attention of a wide audience. The film contains everything it needs - pretty heroine (including love story with Davus) gets killed over science vs. religion conflict and thus becomes a martyr - to appeal to a large crowd and to generate a huge amount of ticket sales. But is it indeed that historically correct?

Tom O'Neil at Armanium Magnum is quite sceptical about the upcoming release:

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