Summary:
The mathematical world owes a lot to Hypatia, not only for her own works and inventions but also for rewriting the commentaries that she did. With out those, much information would have been lost. Charles Kingsley wrote a book based on Hypatia's life entitled: "Hypatia: or new foes in new faces" in 1853.
Hypatia was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the year 370 A.D. She was the daughter of a mathematician Theon. At the time of Hypatia's birth, he was a professor of mathematics at the University of Alexandria. He then became solely dedicated to producing the perfect human being. He taught Hypatia as much of his own knowledge of mathematics as possible. Theon also strived to have Hypatia be completely well-rounded by keeping her on a strict diet and exercise routine. She would row, swim, ride horses, and rock climb in order to have a healthy body. Hypatia also received training in the arts, literature, science and philosophy. Another important train that Theon stressed upon his daughter was the art of retort or orator which is the ability to impress others with their own presence and influence people with words. Theon also made sure to teach his daughter of world religions, which would come to haunt her in her tragic end. All in all, Theon taught Hypatia independence by telling her, "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all."
As Hypatia grew older, she had many marriage proposals but only involved herself in short term affairs. It was said that no man ever lived up to her mental abilities. She though said to have remained celibate her entire life. Always confused by what men though was so wonderful about the female body. She once was said to have gathered rags "stained during her period" and gave them to a man saying, "This is what you love, young man, it isn't beautiful!"
Hypatia became a wonderful teacher and public speaker because she could take the most complicated topic and explain it so simplistically. She was taught everything she knew in the land of Alexandria, which was the center of learning during this time. Scholars and intellects would travel from all over to exchange thoughts and ideas. Because of this she was very lucky. She became one of the most admired teachers of the time. She became the head of Neo-platonic school in Alexandria about 400 A.D.
Though most of her work was lost but what we do know is from letters she wrote to one of her students, Synesius of Cyrene, who was a philosopher and later became a Christian bishop. Also there were many references to her work in other mathematician and astronomers texts. Hypatia taught mathematics and astronomy. Mostly Hypatia wrote commentaries on other texts on her subjects of interests. Her commentaries include:
A Commentary on the Arithmetica of Diophantus
A Commentary on the Almagest- which was the third book her father wrote.
A Commentary on the conics of Apollonious- which divided cones into different parts by a plane.
Basically she made original commentaries easier to understand which made resulted in these commentaries lasting many more years then they would have on their own.
Through her correspondence with Synesius we know that she invented a device called an astrolabe, which is an instrument that determines the altitude of the stars and the planets. She is also accredited with the invention of the hydroscope which is used to distill water and measure the gravity of liquids.
Since Hypatia was so dedicated to her field of study, many Christians felt threatened by her knowledge and were against her research. She had many non-Christian views which caused a ruckus in Alexandria. During Lent in the year 415 A.D, Hypatia was going home and was suddenly pulled out of her carriage and was dragged to a church called Caesareum where a group of religious fanatics lead by Peter the Reader, stripped her of her clothes and brutally beat her with broken pieces of pottery tiles. After tearing her body into pieces they burned her remains.
The mathematical world owes a lot to Hypatia, not only for her own works and inventions but also for rewriting the commentaries that she did. With out those, much information would have been lost. Charles Kingsley wrote a book based on Hypatia's life entitled: "Hypatia: or new foes in new faces" in 1853.
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