Hypatia of Alexandria.

In this post I will talk about the life of Hypatia of Alexandria.

 She was mathematician, astronomer and philosopher born in 370 in Alexandria, Egypt. Her father teaches her (strange behavior at the time). Thanks to him, Hypatia obtained knowledge about religions, speaking, teaching, mathematics, philosophy ...

Her most important work was in algebra. He wrote a commentary on the Arithmetic of Diophantus. He also wrote a treatise on the geometry of conics of Apollonius.

Also was interested in the mechanics and practical technology. In the letters of Synesius are included designs for various scientific instruments.
Hypatia also developed an apparatus for distilling water, an instrument to measure the level of water, and a graduated brass hydrometer for determining the density of liquids.


The murder of Hypatia is described in the work of a V century Christian historian, Socrates Scholasticus (sorry it is in spanish):

“Todos los hombres la reverenciaban y admiraban por la singular modestia de su mente. Por lo cual había gran rencor y envidia en su contra, y porque conversaba a menudo con Orestes, y se contaba entre sus familiares, la gente la acusó de ser la causa de que Orestes y el obispo no se habían hecho amigos. Para decirlo en pocas palabras, algunos atolondrados, impetuosos y violentos cuyo capitán y guía era Pedro, un lector de esa iglesia, vieron a esa mujer cuando regresaba a su casa desde algún lado, la arrancaron de su carruaje; la arrastraron a la iglesia llamada Cesárea; la dejaron totalmente desnuda; le tasajearon la piel y las carnes con caracoles afilados, hasta que el aliento dejó su cuerpo; descuartizan su cuerpo; llevan los pedazos a un lugar llamado Cinaron y los queman hasta convertirlos en cenizas.”

In the tragic death of Hypatia we can see the dificults of the science in there society. What would have happened if Hypatia had been forgotten? Are we now so advanced?

Her life had not to be easy and I think one of the mothers of mathematics, making it worthy of note and admired .
To finish, a remark about Hypatia:


"She was a person that divided society into two parts: those who saw it as an oracle of light, and those who saw it as an emissary of darkness " (Elbert Hubbard)