Why Hypatia of Alexandria became a modern feminist icon

Hypatia of Alexandria was a mathematician, astronomer and Neoplatonist philosopher who lived in the ancient city of Alexandria, part of the Roman Empire at that time. She became a modernist feminist icon and a symbol of women’s rights because of her determination to lead an independent life and refusing to comply with gender expectations in a male Greco-Roman dominated society.

Hypatia of Alexandria

Hypatia (c. 355-415 CE) was the daughter of a man named Theon who was the head of a renowned royal research institute and university based in the so called “Mouseion” in Alexandria where scholars resided and studied philosophy, geometry, mathematics and astronomy. It was not a museum in our sense of the word. The Mouseion also incorporated the famous Library of Alexandria that contained the ancient world’s largest collection of written knowledge.

Hypatia was an only child and without a son to educate, her father’s attention was focussed on her and she became his protégé

Hypatia was an only child and without a son to educate, her father’s attention was focussed on her and she became his protégé. She studied with Theon and helped him to edit and write commentaries on classical scientific texts such as Euclid’s Elements, an extensive treatise compiling all knowledge of mathematics at the time. In doing so under Theon’s guidance and tuition, she became an accomplished expert in the natural sciences. She also had many technical abilities in that she could construct detailed instruments such as astrolabes and hydrometers just from following written instructions.

In time Hypatia became an educator of the sciences

In time Hypatia became an educator of the sciences at the Mouseion. This was extraordinary achievement for a woman in this period because all the other tutors and her students were men. She commanded great respect in a male dominated world.

She also established a school of philosophy based on Neoplatonism which distinguishes between the corporal (bodily attractiveness and desires) with the spiritual (soul and thought). A famous anecdote which emphasises the principles she preached is that of her throwing a menstrual towel at a male suitor who was asked ironically if this is what he admired most about her, her physicality or her mind. Another illustration of her belief that true beauty lies in the soul not the body was that she constantly wore the ‘philosopher’s cloak’ a free-flowing garment which hid her femininity. Her male students could concentrate on what she taught, rather than what she looked like.

Her school of philosophy brought her into conflict with the authorities and her eventual demise

Her school of philosophy brought her into conflict with the authorities and her eventual demise. The school was a meeting place for both Christian and pagan intellectuals. As a Neoplatonist she would have been regarded as a pagan even though she did not appear to be an opponent nor a believer in Christianity. This philosophy explained the universe with respect to facts and not beliefs. Comets were real and not signs from a God.

As a person who taught her secular beliefs openly and as a prominent woman in society, she was an obvious and easy target for extremists

As a person who taught her secular beliefs openly and as a prominent woman in society, she was an obvious and easy target for extremists. The Christian bishop of Alexandria, Theopolis, had protected Hypatia from harm for many years. When he died and Cyril was appointed as bishop, he came into conflict with the secular prefect of Alexandria, Orestes, for whom Hypatia was an adviser. She was accused as the cause of this disagreement between Cyril and Orestes and in retribution, was dragged from her carriage and violently murdered by a group of men in 415, it is assumed under orders from Cyril.  

She proved that women can be equal with men in intellectual ability

The circumstance of her death is still an example today for feminists how a powerful patriarchy can eliminate independent women who demonstrate superior intellect and knowledge. Hypatia remained unmarried and celibate throughout her life, choosing intellectual independence over the societal expectations of domesticity. She proved that women can be equal with men in intellectual ability. Her tragic death transformed her into a feminist martyr, as a woman devoted to freedom of speech and scientific truth.  

By our history correspondent