Wonder Woman of the Week: Hypatia

One of the most important women in the history of mathematics and astronomy was Hypatia of Alexandria- one of the last great thinkers before the Dark Ages of the post-Roman era. Hypatia was a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who lived in Egypt during the reign of the Eastern Roman Empire shortly before a wave of Christianity drove away pagan and sectarian philosophers from the empire's public sphere. During her time as an Alexandrian mathematician and astronomer, Hypatia critiqued the work of her predecessors Ptolemy and Diophantus as well as Apollonius of Perga. Hypatia's true career however was as an educator and taught students across the Mediterranean- of various backgrounds including Christians and those who still worshipped the Roman and Greek gods.

During Hypatia's time, Christianity transitioned from being the religion of the oppressed masses to becoming the sponsored religion of the Eastern Roman Empire- and that shift from Christians being at the pointed end of a sword to becoming those holding the sword completely reshaped education in Alexandria. Hypatia maintained her position during the transition in large part to the respect her students had for her regardless of their own religious beliefs. Hypatia even managed to become a major mentor for both political and religious leadership in the city.

Hypatia's dedication to her students led to her demise however. When a new bishop assumed power in Alexandria, the local governor- a former student of Hypatia's- and the bishop entered into a massive argument over the overly tyrannical behavior of the newly sponsored church in the city. Christians were becoming violently oppressive towards worshippers of other religions and Hypatia was rumored to have counselled the governor to not forgive the bishop for his lack of action on the rising violence. In response, a Christian mob rose up and murdered the astronomer.

Hypatia is remembered today as a champion of education, mathematics, and astronomy- a dedicated professor who taught students regardless of religious background. Hypatia was one of the last secular philosophers in the Christian World before the arrival of the Age of Enlightenment when for a new age, philosophers would question religious explanations for celestial movements. Little of Hypatia's work remains today and many historians often succumb to hearsay when attributing inventions and hypotheses to the philosopher- but her greatest work will always be her dedication to her career as an educator and as a mentor to former students during a rapidly changing society.