See more ideas about women in history, library of alexandria and alexandria. During the time that she lived, in the 4th century of the common era, alexandria was the center of learning for western civilization. Hypatia of alexandria was beautiful and clever, and, as far we know, never did anybody any harm, so why was she torn to pieces by an angry mob, armed so some stories tell with oyster shells. Deakin tells the story of this feminist icon who became a martyr to reason and knowledge. Hypatia of alexandria constitutional rights foundation. Using the limited sources available, deakin creates an account of the historical milieu of fifthcentury egypt, its intellectual climate in which hypatia flourished, and the caldron of warring religious factions.
Jan 22, 2019 the primary sources for the life and work of hypatia of alexandria by michael deakin. There are other fragments historians consider primary sources on hypatias life and death, but they are brief and sometimes suspect. Nowadays people primarily remember hypatia of alexandria, as a martyr of female intellectuals and tragic heroine, for two things. Deakins approach to documenting hypatias history is different from. She lived in roman egypt, and was killed by a christian mob who accused her of causing religious turmoil. Hypatia, ancient alexandrias great female scholar history. A strikingly beautiful woman and a devoted celibate, she lived in a city as turbulent and troubled as baghdad or beirut is today. I read this book with an eye toward using it in one of my classes, women and science, and came away ready to make it required reading for my students. She is the earliest female mathematician of whose life and work reasonably detailed knowledge exists.
By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. The most illustrious representative of grecoroman culture in alexandria about this time was hypatia, the gifted daughter of theon, a mathematician and a philosopher of considerable renown. Hypatia brilliant mathematician, eloquent neoplatonist, and a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered by a mob of christians in alexandria in 415. The first woman mathematician of whom we have reasonably secure and detailed knowledge is hypatia of alexandria. This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, contributions, accomplishments, death and other facts. Charles kingsley entitled hypatia or the old foes with a new face 1853 gave the story further impetus, but put an anglican slant on the events. She becomes the embodiment of hellenism destroyed by the onslaught of mindless christianity, the epitome of the end of the. Most historians now recognize hypatia not only as a mathematician and scientist, but also as a philosopher. The city of alexandria in egypt, founded by alexander the great in 331 bce, was by the end of the 4th century. Apr 25, 2016 the frailty of knowledge sagan on the library of alexandria, hypatia carl sagan tribute series 2 2. She was not only possibly the last scientist with access to the books of the library of alexandria, but the first female mathematician in recorded history.
Ancient greece laid the philosophical foundations for much of western liberal democracy, but women by and large did. The chapter, however, places what is known of her learning and her public utterances mostly from christian sources in the context of fifthcentury alexandria. Alexander is doing on the classical guitar, played in different combinations of electric jazz and dance music. Hypatia, theon, mathematics, conic sections, alexandria, philosophy, greece. Aug 15, 2014 hypatia or the history of a most beautiful, most virtuous, most learned and in every way accomplished lady, who was torn to pieces by the clergy of alexandria to gratify the pride, emulation and cruelty of the archbishop commonly but undeservedly titled st cyril, tetradymus, chapter 3, london, 1720. As a pagan martyr, she has always been a stick to beat christians with. She was the daughter of the mathematician theon, the last professor at the university of alexandria, who tutored her in math, astronomy, and the. Hypatia, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who lived in a very turbulent era in alexandrias history. We need 1hz, not 2hz, to feed to our seconds counter. In hypatia of alexandria, deakin does an excellent job of creating a complete picture of this remarkable mathematician for whom the historical records are scarce and incomplete. Mathematician michael deakin emphasizes that, though she was a. The martyrdom of hypatia wikisource, the free online library.
Download a philosopher, mathematician, and martyr, hypatia is one of antiquitys best known female intellectuals. This is the first biography of hypatia to integrate all aspects of her life. A century after hypatia the alexandrian philosopher ammonius was still. Le voyage des legendes the life, work and death of hypatia.
Hypatia of alexandria \she was a person who divided society into two parts. Hypatia was the daughter of theon of alexandria, himself a mathematician and astronomer and the last attested member of the alexandrian museum see researchers note. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Historical references to hypatia the primary sources, even those christian writers who were hostile to her and claimed she was a witch, portray her as a woman who was widely known for her generosity, love of learning, and expertise in teaching in the subjects of neoplatonism. Hypatia of alexandria mathematician and martyr pdf in the late fourth and early fifth centuries of our era, hypatia of alexandria was the worlds greatest living mathematician and astronomer. There are few women whose legacies have been more of a political football than hypatia of alexandria. The webs source of information for ancient history. Since we do not have access to any of hypatia s mathematics or philosophy, the chapters on her work have to be mostly context and conjecture. A center of greek intellectual and cultural life, the museum included many independent schools and the great library of alexandria. Thus, we can say that hypatia was the last of classical philosophers. Hypatia, ancient alexandrias great female scholar an avowed paganist in a time of religious strife, hypatia was also one of the first women to study math, astronomy and philosophy. Hypatia the last of classical philosophers light warriors.
She was a prominent thinker of the neoplatonic school in alexandria where she taught philosophy and astronomy. Hypatia of alexandria mathematician and martyr pdf ovchinnikov, alexander deals with classical music on the guitar with his teacher specialty. Sep 30, 2010 in the late fourth and early fifth centuries of our era, hypatia of alexandria was the worlds greatest living mathematician and astronomer. Richeson university of maryland the first woman mathematician regarding whom we have positive knowledge is the celebrated mathematicianphilosopher hypatia. Hypatia of alexandria by maria dzielska is the first book i have ever read specifically devoted to the exploration of the life of hypatia, like many who enjoy reading about the late antique i. A reexamination of hypatia of alexandra bryan whitfield recently received his masters degree in mathematics education from the univerity of georgia.
Since we do not have access to any of hypatias mathematics or philosophy, the chapters on her work have to be mostly context and conjecture. Hypatia was the daughter of the mathematician theon of alexandria c. Hypatia was the daughter of theon, who was considered one of the most educated men in alexandria, egypt. Hypatia, also known as hypatia of alexandria, was a famed inventor, astronomer, mathematician and. Hypatia, also known as hypatia of alexandria, was a famed inventor, astronomer, mathematician and philosopher from egypt.
In memory of hypatia of alexandria ordinary philosophy. The martyr mathematician there are few women whose legacies have been more of a political football than hypatia of alexandria. Deakin, honorary research fellow at the school of mathematical sciences of monash university in melbourne, australia. The author uses all sorts of repetition and unnecessary verbiage to expand what amounts to only about 20 pages of material to a page book. He works with students in grades 512 in the learning assistance program at athens academy in athens, ga. According to a 6th century report by damascius deakin, 1996 hypatia was born and educated in alexandria.
Mathematician and martyr kindle edition by deakin, michael a. If you want to do something quick, you tend to end up failing miserably or doing yourself an injury. Theon is best remembered for the part he played in the preservation of euclids elements, but he also wrote extensively, commenting on ptolemys almagest and handy tables. Impact of women mathematicians on research and education in. On hypatia of alexandria, in textual studies in ancient and medieval geometry, birkhauser, 1989. It is said that theon would have come down to us as a great man had not his daughters fame eclipsed his. Apr 22, 2019 hypatia was the daughter of theon of alexandria who was a teacher of mathematics with the museum of alexandria in egypt.
In the late fourth and early fifth centuries of our era, hypatia of alexandria was the worlds greatest living mathematician and astronomer. Read hypatia of alexandria revealing antiquity pdf online. The day of her death is better known, sometime in march of 415. Read hypatia of alexandria revealing antiquity pdf. Watts, theon was the head of a school called the mouseion, which was named in emulation of the hellenistic mouseion, whose membership had ceased in the 260s ad. People primarily remember hypatia of alexandria, martyr of female intellectuals and tragic heroine, for two things. Hypatia was the daughter of theon of alexandria who was a teacher of mathematics with the museum of alexandria in egypt. Hypatia of alexandria was a philosopher, astronomer, mathe. In this engrossing book, maria dzielska searches behind the legend to bring us the real story of hypatia s life and death, and new insight into her. Navigation how to navigate sponsors please consider clicking on the support datawheet button to show your appreciation. In this engrossing book, maria dzielska searches behind the legend to bring us the real story of hypatias life and death, and new insight into her. It discusses the role of women in late antique society and identifies. For hypatia lived and died on the cusp of the transition from the graecoroman to the christian tradition and to tell her story is, in large measure, to tell the story of her times. She also was an expert astronomer, philosopher, physicist, and.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hypatia of alexandria. Mar 15, 2012 there are other fragments historians consider primary sources on hypatias life and death, but they are brief and sometimes suspect. Hypatia or the history of a most beautiful, most virtuous, most learned and in every way accomplished lady, who was torn to pieces by the clergy of alexandria to gratify the pride, emulation and cruelty of the archbishop commonly but undeservedly titled st cyril, tetradymus, chapter 3, london, 1720. See more ideas about alexandria, library of alexandria and women in history. The exact date of her birth is not known, but recent studies indicate that she was born about a. Mathematician and martyr 231 pages, prometheus books, 2007. Hypatia of alexandria by maria dzielska springerlink. She became the victim of a particularly brutal murder at the hands of a gang of christian zealots. The established facts of hypatias life are essentially these. She achieved fame not only in her special field, but also as a philosopher, religious thinker, and teacher who attracted a. Deakin the american mathematical monthly,march 1994, volume 101, number 3, pp. Deakins work differs from hypatia of alexandria by maria dzielska primarily in style and a little in content. For hypatia lived and died on the cusp of the transition from the graecoroman to the christian tradition and to.
Hypatia of alexandria, the female intellectual stoned to. Hypatias birthday is somewhere between 350 and 370 ad. The life of hypatia was one enriched with a passion for knowledge. During the sixteen centuries following her murder, by a mob of christians, hypatia has been remembered in books, poems, plays, paintings, and films as a victim of religious intolerance whose death symbolized the end of the classical world. Hypatia of alexandria ancient history encyclopedia. Apr 04, 2009 hypatia of alexandria was beautiful and clever, and, as far we know, never did anybody any harm, so why was she torn to pieces by an angry mob, armed so some stories tell with oyster shells. She was the daughter of the mathematician theon, the last professor at the university of alexandria, who tutored her in math, astronomy, and the philosophy of the day which, in modern times, would be. Deakin does compare 4th century alexandria to current trouble spots such as baghdad and malaysia, but then reverts to the pagan martyr approach. Hypatia has been regarded historically as a pagan martyr, a great mathematician murdered by christians, provoked by her outspokenness and jealous of her brilliance. Jan 22, 2017 people primarily remember hypatia of alexandria, martyr of female intellectuals and tragic heroine, for two things. Shortly after hypatias murder, a forged antichristian letter appeared under her name. B download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Hypatia of alexandria, the daughter of theon, a mathematician and.
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