This biography of Hypatia, the female philosopher and mathematician in
Christian Egypt, provides background on her work and her life as an
elite woman at this time. There are many myths about Hypatia, including
her research, inventions and the impact of her murder, all based on a
handful of contemporary resources. Through presenting the different
theories and myths alongside the available evidence, this book will
enable the reader to make their own interpretations about her life.
Whilst the evidence does leave many questions unanswered, this book
provides the evidence as it stands, separating the myth from reality.
There is very little published on Hypatia and she forms quite a niche
market in the history of ancient Egypt. However, she is an interesting
example of how multicultural Alexandria functioned at such an unstable
political time, and provides anecdotal evidence of the atrocities that
occurred. This book will appeal to scholars, lay people and political
and religious researchers, and will show that the history of Egypt does
not end at Cleopatra.