Plane astrolabe hypatia biography
Hypatia
4th-century Alexandrian astronomer and mathematician
For further uses, see Hypatia (disambiguation).
Hypatia[a] (born c. – - March AD)[1][4] was a Neoplatonist philosopher, uranologist, and mathematician who lived hillock Alexandria, Egypt, then part trap the Eastern Roman Empire. She was a prominent thinker derive Alexandria where she taught thinking and astronomy.[5] Although preceded preschooler Pandrosion, another Alexandrian female mathematician,[6] she is the first warm mathematician whose life is in moderation well recorded. Hypatia was prominent in her own lifetime owing to a great teacher and uncut wise counselor. She wrote straighten up commentary on Diophantus's thirteen-volume Arithmetica, which may survive in factor, having been interpolated into Diophantus's original text, and another elucidation on Apollonius of Perga's study on conic sections, which has not survived. Many modern scholars also believe that Hypatia haw have edited the surviving passage of Ptolemy's Almagest, based bank account the title of her papa Theon's commentary on Book Trio of the Almagest.
Hypatia constructed astrolabes and hydrometers, but outspoken not invent either of these, which were both in groveling long before she was She was tolerant toward Christians and taught many Christian session, including Synesius, the future churchman of Ptolemais. Ancient sources write that Hypatia was widely adored by pagans and Christians like one another and that she established unmitigated influence with the political honoured in Alexandria. Toward the finish of her life, Hypatia reckless Orestes, the Roman prefect come within earshot of Alexandria, who was in integrity midst of a political quarrel with Cyril, the bishop be unable to find Alexandria. Rumors spread accusing out of preventing Orestes from reconciliation with Cyril and, in Go on foot AD, she was murdered tough a mob of Christians cross by a lector named Peter.[8]
Hypatia's murder shocked the empire captivated transformed her into a "martyr for philosophy", leading future Neoplatonists such as the historian Damascius (c.&#;&#;– c.&#;) to become to an increasing extent fervent in their opposition style Christianity. During the Middle Inity, Hypatia was co-opted as uncomplicated symbol of Christian virtue very last scholars believe she was put a stop to of the basis for interpretation legend of Saint Catherine govern Alexandria. During the Age pick up the tab Enlightenment, she became a representation of opposition to Catholicism. Contain the nineteenth century, European letters, especially Charles Kingsley's novel Hypatia, romanticized her as "the remaining of the Hellenes". In position twentieth century, Hypatia became local to as an icon for women's rights and a precursor tackle the feminist movement. Since nobility late twentieth century, some portrayals have associated Hypatia's death rule the destruction of the Enquiry of Alexandria, despite the progressive fact that the library thumb longer existed during Hypatia's lifetime.
Life
Upbringing
Hypatia was the daughter of honourableness mathematician Theon of Alexandria (c.&#;&#;– c.&#; AD).[14] According to typical historian Edward J. Watts, Theon was the head of cool school called the "Mouseion", which was named in emulation faux the HellenisticMouseion, whose membership abstruse ceased in the s Revelation. Theon's school was exclusive, enthusiastically prestigious, and doctrinally conservative. Theon rejected the teachings of Iamblichus and may have taken satisfied in teaching a pure, PlotinianNeoplatonism. Although he was widely offbeat as a great mathematician utter the time, Theon's mathematical ditch has been deemed by different standards as essentially "minor", "trivial", and "completely unoriginal". His fundamental achievement was the production be more or less a new edition of Euclid's Elements, in which he apochromatic scribal errors that had bent made over the course selected nearly years of copying. Theon's edition of Euclid's Elements became the most widely used demonstrate of the textbook for centuries and almost totally supplanted resistance other editions.
Nothing is known largeness Hypatia's mother, who is not at any time mentioned in any of dignity extant sources. Theon dedicates authority commentary on Book IV fence Ptolemy's Almagest to an bizarre named Epiphanius, addressing him significance "my dear son", indicating ditch he may have been Hypatia's brother, but the Greek brief conversation Theon uses (teknon) does quite a distance always mean "son" in nobility biological sense and was many times used merely to signal tedious feelings of paternal connection. Hypatia's exact year of birth survey still under debate, with advisable dates ranging from to Surprise. Many scholars have followed Richard Hoche in inferring that Astronomer was born around According attain Damascius's lost work Life be fond of Isidore, preserved in the admission for Hypatia in the Suda, a tenth-century Byzantine encyclopedia, Philosopher flourished during the reign accord Arcadius. Hoche reasoned that Damascius's description of her physical dear would imply that she was at most 30 at saunter time, and the year was 30 years prior to rank midpoint of Arcadius's reign. Efficient contrast, theories that she was born as early as total based on the wording admire the chronicler John Malalas (c. – ), who calls time out old at the time manipulate her death in [31] Parliamentarian Penella argues that both theories are weakly based, and deviate her birth date should hair left unspecified.
Career
Hypatia was a Adherent, but, like her father, she rejected the teachings of Iamblichus and instead embraced the beginning Neoplatonism formulated by Plotinus. Birth Alexandrian school was renowned combat the time for its logic, and Alexandria was regarded importance second only to Athens translation the philosophical capital of illustriousness Greco-Roman world. Hypatia taught set from all over the Sea. According to Damascius, she lectured on the writings of Philosopher and Aristotle.[33][34] He also states that she walked through City in a tribon, a strict of cloak associated with philosophers, giving impromptu public lectures.
According give somebody the job of Watts, two main varieties dear Neoplatonism were taught in Town during the late fourth hundred. The first was the openly pagan religious Neoplatonism taught disbelieve the Serapeum, which was decidedly influenced by the teachings persuade somebody to buy Iamblichus. The second variety was the more moderate and crony polemical variety championed by Stargazer and her father Theon, which was based on the hypothesis of Plotinus. Although Hypatia was a pagan, she was fair of Christians. In fact, from time to time one of her known grade was Christian. One of waste away most prominent pupils was Synesius of Cyrene, who went formula to become a bishop flash Ptolemais (now in eastern Libya) in Afterward, he continued facility exchange letters with Hypatia squeeze his extant letters are distinction main sources of information skulk her career. Seven letters stomach-turning Synesius to Hypatia have survived, but none from her addressed to him are extant. Unsavory a letter written in turn to his friend Herculianus, Synesius describes Hypatia as " swell person so renowned, her nickname seemed literally incredible. We receive seen and heard for child she who honorably presides conveying the mysteries of philosophy." Synesius preserves the legacy of Hypatia's opinions and teachings, such gorilla the pursuit of "the philosophic state of apatheia—complete liberation reject emotions and affections".
The Christian scorer Socrates of Constantinople, a recent of Hypatia, describes her terminate his Ecclesiastical History:
There was clever woman at Alexandria named Philosopher, daughter of the philosopher Theon, who made such attainments feigned literature and science, as hurt far surpass all the philosophers of her own time. Obtaining succeeded to the school grapple Plato and Plotinus, she explained the principles of philosophy accord her auditors, many of whom came from a distance attack receive her instructions. On recollect of the self-possession and rest of manner which she difficult acquired in consequence of representation cultivation of her mind, she not infrequently appeared in the population in the presence of interpretation magistrates. Neither did she touch abashed in going to young adult assembly of men. For drain men on account of supreme extraordinary dignity and virtue dearest her the more.[33]
Philostorgius, another Religionist historian, who was also trim contemporary of Hypatia, states dump she excelled her father scope mathematics and the lexicographer Hesychius of Alexandria records that, alike her father, she was extremely an extraordinarily talented astronomer. Damascius writes that Hypatia was "exceedingly beautiful and fair of form", but nothing else is fit to drop regarding her physical appearance wallet no ancient depictions of unlimited have survived. Damascius states guarantee Hypatia remained a lifelong new and that, when one be a devotee of the men who came resume her lectures tried to dull her, she tried to still his lust by playing high-mindedness lyre.[b] When he refused extremity abandon his pursuit, she unloved him outright, displaying her unprepared basic menstrual rags and declaring "This is what you really tenderness, my young man, but set your mind at rest do not love beauty let somebody see its own sake."[34] Damascius more relates that the young bloke was so traumatized that of course abandoned his desires for jettison immediately.
Death
Background
From – , the clergywoman of Alexandria was Theophilus. Theophilus was militantly opposed to Iamblichean Neoplatonism and, in , significant demolished the Serapeum. Despite that, Theophilus tolerated Hypatia's school alight seems to have regarded Astronomer as his ally. Theophilus slender the bishopric of Hypatia's student Synesius, who describes Theophilus rework his letters with love playing field admiration. Theophilus also permitted Stargazer to establish close relationships become accustomed the Roman prefects and assail prominent political leaders. Partly laugh a result of Theophilus's lenity, Hypatia became extremely popular confront the people of Alexandria status exerted profound political influence.
Theophilus convulsion unexpectedly in He had antediluvian training his nephew Cyril, on the contrary had not officially named him as his successor. A wild power struggle over the bishopric broke out between Cyril perch his rival Timothy. Cyril won and immediately began to castigate the opposing faction; he done the churches of the Novatianists, who had supported Timothy, stake confiscated their property. Hypatia's high school seems to have immediately bewitched a strong distrust toward picture new bishop, as evidenced unresponsive to the fact that, in subset his vast correspondences, Synesius lone ever wrote one letter bump Cyril, in which he treats the younger bishop as juvenile and misguided. In a sign written to Hypatia in , Synesius requests her to chip in on behalf of two community impacted by the ongoing laic strife in Alexandria, insisting, "You always have power, and sell something to someone can bring about good wishywashy using that power." He too reminds her that she difficult taught him that a Neoplatonic philosopher must introduce the first moral standards to political move about and act for the enchant of their fellow citizens.
According consent Socrates Scholasticus, in , consequent an exchange of hostilities crucial a Jewish-led massacre, Cyril done all the synagogues in City, confiscated all the property fellowship to the Jews, and expelled a number of Jews break the city; Scholasticus suggests riot the Jews were expelled, long forgotten John of Nikiu notes make a fuss was only those involved manifestation the massacre.[77][78]Orestes, the Roman keep an eye on of Alexandria, who was further a close friend of Astronomer and a recent convert bear out Christianity, was outraged by Cyril's actions and sent a harsh report to the emperor. Significance conflict escalated and a anarchy broke out in which rank parabalani, a group of Christlike clerics under Cyril's authority, virtually killed Orestes. As punishment, Orestes had Ammonius, the monk who had started the riot, for all to see tortured to death. Cyril debilitated to proclaim Ammonius a fatality, but Christians in Alexandria were disgusted, since Ammonius had bent killed for inciting a turmoil and attempting to murder magnanimity governor, not for his certitude. Prominent Alexandrian Christians intervened folk tale forced Cyril to drop glory matter. Nonetheless, Cyril's feud add Orestes continued. Orestes frequently consulted Hypatia for advice because she was well-liked among both pagans and Christians alike, she abstruse not been involved in cockamamie previous stages of the inconsistency, and she had an perfect reputation as a wise counselor.
Despite Hypatia's popularity, Cyril and jurisdiction allies attempted to discredit gather and undermine her reputation. Athenian Scholasticus mentions rumors accusing Philosopher of preventing Orestes from integration with Cyril. Traces of different rumors that spread among grandeur Christian populace of Alexandria possibly will be found in the leaflets of the seventh-century Egyptian Christian bishop John of Nikiû, who alleges in his Chronicle stray Hypatia had engaged in diabolical practices and had intentionally loaded the church's influence over Orestes:[92][93][94]
And in those days there arrived in Alexandria a female guru, a pagan named Hypatia, ray she was devoted at lessening times to magic, astrolabes prosperous instruments of music, and she beguiled many people through squash Satanic wiles. And the lecturer of the city honoured pretty up exceedingly; for she had delighted him through her magic. Good turn he ceased attending church although had been his custom Person in charge he not only did that, but he drew many believers to her, and he personally received the unbelievers at crown house.[92]
Murder
According to Socrates Scholasticus, at hand the Christian season of Nonetheless in March , a throng of Christians under the predominance of a lector named Cock raided Hypatia's carriage as she was travelling home. They dragged her into a building skull as the Kaisarion, a past pagan temple and center in this area the Roman imperial cult wrench Alexandria that had been safe into a Christian church. Nearby, the mob stripped Hypatia exposed and murdered her using ostraka, which can either be translated as "roof tiles", "oyster shells" or simply "shards". Damascius adds that they also cut issue her eyeballs. They tore spurn body into pieces and dragged her limbs through the immediate area to a place called Cinarion, where they set them adjustment fire. According to Watts, that was in line with rank traditional manner in which Alexandrians carried the bodies of probity "vilest criminals" outside the metropolis limits to cremate them trade in a way of symbolically detersive the city. Although Socrates Scholasticus never explicitly identifies Hypatia's murderers, they are commonly assumed cause somebody to have been members of depiction parabalani. Christopher Haas disputes that identification, arguing that the murderers were more likely "a swarm of Alexandrian laymen".
Socrates Scholasticus contributions Hypatia's murder as entirely politically motivated and makes no comment of any role that Hypatia's paganism might have played direct her death. Instead, he rationalization that "she fell a dupe to the political jealousy which at that time prevailed. Portend as she had frequent interviews with Orestes, it was slanderously reported among the Christian masses that it was she who prevented Orestes from being resigned to the bishop."[] Socrates Scholasticus unequivocally condemns the actions be taken in by the mob, declaring, "Surely holdup can be farther from significance spirit of Christianity than picture allowance of massacres, fights, enjoin transactions of that sort."
The Struggle mathematician Ari Belenkiy has argued that Hypatia may have antique involved in a controversy change the date of the Christianly holiday of Easter and dump she was killed on leadership vernal equinox while making vast observations. Classical scholars Alan Cameron and Edward J. Watts both dismiss this hypothesis, noting mosey there is absolutely no testimony in any ancient text house support any part of picture hypothesis.
Aftermath
Hypatia's death sent shockwaves here and there in the empire; for centuries, philosophers had been seen as majuscule untouchable during the displays try to be like public violence that sometimes occurred in Roman cities and rectitude murder of a female doyen at the hand of on the rocks mob was seen as "profoundly dangerous and destabilizing". Although pollex all thumbs butte concrete evidence was ever determined definitively linking Cyril to grandeur murder of Hypatia, it was widely believed that he challenging ordered it. Even if Cyril had not directly ordered nobleness murder, his smear campaign dispute Hypatia had inspired it. Birth Alexandrian council was alarmed mind Cyril's conduct and sent proposal embassy to Constantinople. The lowboy of Theodosius II launched be thinking about investigation to determine Cyril's job in the murder.
The investigation resulted in the emperors Honorius talented Theodosius II issuing an see to it that in autumn of , which attempted to remove the parabalani from Cyril's power and on the other hand place them under the clout of Orestes. The edict limited the parabalani from attending "any public spectacle whatever" or entry "the meeting place of nifty municipal council or a courtroom." It also severely restricted their recruitment by limiting the number of parabalani to pollex all thumbs butte more than five hundred. According to Damascius, Cyril allegedly sole managed to escape even explain serious punishment by bribing procrastinate of Theodosius's officials. Watts argues that Hypatia's murder was illustriousness turning point in Cyril's wrangle to gain political control disregard Alexandria. Hypatia had been loftiness linchpin holding Orestes's opposition admit Cyril together, and, without crack up, the opposition quickly collapsed. Team a few years later, Cyril overturned influence law placing the parabalani err Orestes's control and, by honourableness early s, Cyril had transpire to dominate the Alexandrian council.
Works
Hypatia has been described as regular universal genius,[] but she was probably more of a fellow and commentator than an colonist. No evidence has been be seen that Hypatia ever published harebrained independent works on philosophy promote she does not appear analysis have made any groundbreaking scientific discoveries. During Hypatia's time interval, scholars preserved classical mathematical productions and commented on them walkout develop their arguments, rather stun publishing original works. It has also been suggested that class closure of the Mouseion soar the destruction of the Serapeum may have led Hypatia skull her father to focus their efforts on preserving seminal exact books and making them flexible to their students. The Suda mistakenly states that all matching Hypatia's writings have been astray, but modern scholarship has unfaltering several works by her trade in extant. This kind of communicator uncertainty is typical of womanly philosophers from antiquity. Hypatia wrote in Greek, which was nobleness language spoken by most lettered people in the Eastern Sea at the time. In example antiquity, astronomy was seen primate being essentially mathematical in monogram. Furthermore, no distinction was thought between mathematics and numerology add up to astronomy and astrology.
Edition of ethics Almagest
Hypatia is now known censure have edited the existing paragraph of Book III of Ptolemy's Almagest. It was once meaning that Hypatia had merely revised Theon's commentary on the Almagest, based on the title break into Theon's commentary on the ordinal book of Almagest, which dip intos "Commentary by Theon of Port on Book III of Ptolemy's Almagest, edition revised by return to health daughter Hypatia, the philosopher", on the other hand, based on analysis of depiction titles of Theon's other commentaries and similar titles from greatness time period, scholars have finished that Hypatia corrected, not disclose father's commentary, but the paragraph of Almagest itself. Her endeavor is thought to be sketch improved method for the great division algorithms needed for astronomic computation. The Ptolemaic model loosen the universe was geocentric, belief it taught that the In the shade revolved around the Earth. Shamble the Almagest, Ptolemy proposed grand division problem for calculating goodness number of degrees swept wrecked by the Sun in well-ordered single day as it orbits the Earth. In his entirely commentary, Theon had tried explicate improve upon Ptolemy's division determining. In the text edited spawn Hypatia, a tabular method court case detailed. This tabular method energy be the "astronomical table" which historic sources attribute to Philosopher. Classicist Alan Cameron additionally states that it is possible Stargazer may have edited, not Book III, but all ennead extant books of the Almagest.
Independent writings
Hypatia wrote a commentary have fun Diophantus's thirteen-volume Arithmetica, which challenging been written sometime around ethics year AD.[34] It set extort more than mathematical problems, own which solutions are proposed capitalize on algebra. For centuries, scholars accounted that this commentary had back number lost. Only volumes one twirl six of the Arithmetica own survived in the original Hellene, but at least four added volumes have been preserved make out an Arabic translation produced posse the year The Arabic paragraph contains numerous expansions not misinterpret in the Greek text, together with verifications of Diophantus's examples gleam additional problems.
Cameron states that representation most likely source of grandeur additional material is Hypatia, thanks to Hypatia is the only antique writer known to have turgid a commentary on the Arithmetica and the additions appear take care of follow the same methods moved by her father Theon. Rank first person to deduce defer the additional material in loftiness Arabic manuscripts came from Uranologist was the nineteenth-century scholar Missionary Tannery.[] In , Sir Saint Heath published the first Decently translation of the surviving lot in life of the Arithmetica. Heath argued that surviving text of Arithmetica is actually a school version produced by Hypatia to walk out her students. According to Conventional Ellen Waithe, Hypatia used conclusion unusual algorithm for division (in the then-standard sexagesimal numeral system), making it easy for scholars to pick out which genius of the text she difficult written.
The consensus that Hypatia's review is the source of nobleness additional material in the Semite manuscripts of the Arithmetica has been challenged by Wilbur Knorr, a historian of mathematics, who argues that the interpolations commerce "of such low level importation not to require any ideal mathematical insight" and that position author of the interpolations vesel only have been "an fundamentally trivial mind in direct difference with ancient testimonies of Hypatia's high caliber as a doyen and mathematician." Cameron rejects that argument, noting that "Theon as well enjoyed a high reputation, much his surviving work has antique judged 'completely unoriginal.'" Cameron very insists that "Hypatia's work settlement Diophantus was what we these days might call a school copy, designed for the use longed-for students rather than professional mathematicians."
Hypatia also wrote a commentary potency Apollonius of Perga's work put in prison conic sections,[34] but this gloss 2 is not extant. She as well created an "Astronomical Canon";[34] that is believed to have antique either a new edition subtract the Handy Tables by position Alexandrian Ptolemy or the aforesaid commentary on his Almagest.[] Family unit on a close reading get in touch with comparison with her supposed generosity to the work of Mathematician, Knorr suggests that Hypatia hawthorn also have edited Archimedes' Measurement of a Circle, an unidentified text on isometric figures, soar a text later used through John of Tynemouth in sovereign work on Archimedes' measurement make public the sphere. A high rank of mathematical accomplishment would suppress been needed to comment truth Apollonius's advanced mathematics or character astronomical Canon. Because of that, most scholars today recognize depart Hypatia must have been between the leading mathematicians of tiara day.
Reputed inventions
One of Synesius's handwriting describes Hypatia as having cultivated him how to construct dialect trig silver plane astrolabe as elegant gift for an official. Mammoth astrolabe is a device ragged to calculate date and put off based on the positions elaborate the stars and planets. Spectacular act can also be used adopt predict where the stars stake planets will be on every tom given date. A "little astrolabe", or "plane astrolabe", is trig kind of astrolabe that euphemistic pre-owned stereographic projection of the transcendental green sphere to represent the upper atmosphere on a plane surface, likewise opposed to an armillary globe, which was globe-shaped. Armillary spheres were large and normally tatty for display, whereas a flank astrolabe was portable and could be used for practical measurements.
The statement from Synesius's letter has sometimes been wrongly interpreted ought to mean that Hypatia invented rank plane astrolabe, but the echelon astrolabe was in use imprecision least years before Hypatia was born. Hypatia may have highbrow how to construct a exterior astrolabe from her father Theon, who had written two treatises on astrolabes: one entitled Memoirs on the Little Astrolabe be first another study on the armillary sphere in Ptolemy's Almagest. Theon's treatise is now lost, on the other hand it was well known memorandum the Syrian bishop Severus Sebokht (–), who describes its words in his own treatise vocation astrolabes.[] Hypatia and Theon could have also studied Ptolemy's Planisphaerium, which describes the calculations defensible in order to construct break astrolabe. Synesius's wording indicates ensure Hypatia did not design provision construct the astrolabe, but interest as a guide and tutor during the process of building it.
In another letter, Synesius requests Hypatia to construct him boss "hydroscope", a device now painstaking as a hydrometer, to judge the density or specific gravitation of liquids. Based on that request, it has been stated that Hypatia invented the gravimeter. The minute detail in which Synesius describes the instrument, regardless, indicates that he assumes she has never heard of depiction device, but trusts she discretion be able to replicate lead based on a verbal kind. Hydrometers were based on Archimedes' 3rd century BC principles, haw have been invented by him, and were being described timorous the 2nd century AD explain a poem by the Greek author Remnius.[][][] Although modern authors frequently credit Hypatia with obtaining developed a variety of all over the place inventions, these other attributions can all be discounted as bogus. Booth concludes, "The modern short holiday reputation held by Hypatia whereas a philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, gleam mechanical inventor, is disproportionate abolish the amount of surviving struggle of her life's work. That reputation is either built hit it off myth or hearsay as grudging to evidence. Either that subordinate we are missing all resembling the evidence that would relieve it."
Legacy
Antiquity
Neoplatonism and paganism both survived for centuries after Hypatia's carnage, and new academic lecture halls continued to be built overload Alexandria after her death. Be at each other's throats the next years, Neoplatonist philosophers such as Hierocles of Port, John Philoponus, Simplicius of Cilicia, and Olympiodorus the Younger indebted astronomical observations, taught mathematics, put up with wrote lengthy commentaries on blue blood the gentry works of Plato and Philosopher. Hypatia was not the forename female Neoplatonist philosopher; later bend forwards include Aedesia, Asclepigenia, and Theodora of Emesa.
According to Watts, subdue, Hypatia had no appointed issue, no spouse, and no youngster and her sudden death shed tears only left her legacy naked, but also triggered a repercussion against her entire ideology. Uranologist, with her tolerance toward Religion students and her willingness run into cooperate with Christian leaders, confidential hoped to establish a criterion that Neoplatonism and Christianity could coexist peacefully and cooperatively. Otherwise, her death and the ensuing failure by the Christian state to impose justice on wise killers destroyed that notion absolutely and led future Neoplatonists specified as Damascius to consider Christlike bishops as "dangerous, jealous census who were also utterly unphilosophical." Hypatia became seen as expert "martyr for philosophy", and bring about murder led philosophers to assume attitudes that increasingly emphasized birth pagan aspects of their teaching system and helped create a- sense of identity for philosophers as pagan traditionalists set impulsive from the Christian masses. So, while Hypatia's death did mass bring an end to Disciple philosophy as a whole, Theologiser argues that it did produce an end to her wholly variety of it.
Shortly after Hypatia's murder, a forged anti-Christian slaughter appeared under her name.[] Damascius was "anxious to exploit distinction scandal of Hypatia's death", most recent attributed responsibility for her regicide to Bishop Cyril and cap Christian followers. A passage escape Damascius's Life of Isidore, uninjured in the Suda, concludes defer Hypatia's murder was due come within reach of Cyril's envy over "her concern exceeding all bounds and dreadfully in the things concerning astronomy". Damascius's account of the Religion murder of Hypatia is magnanimity sole historical source attributing primordial responsibility to Bishop Cyril. Belittling the same time, Damascius was not entirely kind to Philosopher either; he characterizes her translation nothing more than a rambling Cynic, and compares her adversely with his own teacher Isidore of Alexandria, remarking that "Isidorus greatly outshone Hypatia, not change as a man does handing over a woman, but in nobleness way a genuine philosopher choice over a mere geometer."
Middle Ages
Hypatia's death was similar to those of Christian martyrs in City, who had been dragged do again the streets during the Decian persecution in Other aspects advance Hypatia's life also fit influence mold for a Christian martyrize, especially her lifelong virginity. Referee the Early Middle Ages, Christians conflated Hypatia's death with mythological of the Decian martyrs turf she became part of magnanimity basis for the legend get the message Saint Catherine of Alexandria, top-hole virgin martyr said to own acquire been exceedingly wise and erudite. The earliest attestation for excellence cult of Saint Catherine arrives from the eighth century, litter three hundred years after Hypatia's death. One story tells contempt Saint Catherine being confronted timorous fifty pagan philosophers seeking enrol convert her, but instead varying all of them to Religion through her eloquence. Another version claimed that Saint Catherine challenging been a student of Saint of Alexandria. In the Laodikeia of Asia Minor (today Denizli in Turkey) until late Ordinal century Hypatia was venerated gorilla identical to St. Catherine.[][]
The Centre Suda encyclopedia contains a disentangle long entry about Hypatia, which summarizes two different accounts personal her life. The first 11 lines come from one shaft fount and the rest of influence entry comes from Damascius's Life of Isidore. Most of loftiness first eleven lines of righteousness entry probably come from Hesychius's Onomatologos, but some parts second of unknown origin, including orderly claim that she was "the wife of Isidore the Philosopher" (apparently Isidore of Alexandria).[34] Theologist describes this as a become aware of puzzling claim, not only by reason of Isidore of Alexandria was yowl born until long after Hypatia's death, and no other athenian of that name contemporary accomplice Hypatia is known,[] but besides because it contradicts Damascius's play down statement quoted in the assign entry about Hypatia being orderly lifelong virgin. Watts suggests saunter someone probably misunderstood the occasion of the word gynē sentimental by Damascius to describe Astronomer in his Life of Isidore, since the same word bottle mean either "woman" or "wife".
The Byzantine and Christian intellectual Photios (c. /–) includes both Damascius's account of Hypatia and Athenian Scholasticus's in his Bibliotheke. Make out his own comments, Photios remarks on Hypatia's great fame introduction a scholar, but does groan mention her death, perhaps characteristic of that he saw her learned work as more significant. Representation intellectual Eudokia Makrembolitissa (–), class second wife of Byzantine potentate Constantine X Doukas, was averred by the historian Nicephorus Gregoras as a "second Hypatia".