Hypatia

Drawn by Jules Maurice Gaspard (1862–1919) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

MATHEMATICIAN & PHYSICIST
FIRST woman in the sciences whose life is fairly well documented
Lectured and published about a myriad of fields, including philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and mechanics
May have served as head of the Museum of Alexandria, after her father
Although none of her writings have survived, her students reference her many times in their own works
Authored two major mathematic tomes: a 13-volume exposition on the work of contemporary mathematician Diophantus, and an 8-volume work about conic sections (figures in geometry that are formed when a plane passes through a cone)
INVENTED a desalinator, a plane astrolabe to determine the position of celestial bodies, a planisphere to identify stars and their motions, and a hydrometer to identify the density or specific gravity of liquids, among other tools and devices
A Neoplatonist, she was denounced as a pagan and heretic by Cyril, the head of the Christian church, and brutally murdered by a mob of his followers; it's unclear whether this was actually because of her beliefs, or simply a tragic result of political machinations (she was close friends with the political leader of Egypt)
She has come to be viewed by many as a martyr of feminism, and as a symbol of oppression of both women and science. Her death is often cited as the beginning of a thousand-year interruption of scientific progress and women's rights.

Fact or Fiction?

The powerful symbolism of Hypatia's life and death has been manipulated by many over the years to serve their own agendas. Beware of books by Charles Kingsley and Elbert Hubbard, both of whom wrote very popular "biographies" of Hypatia that are actually complete fiction.

Bibliography: Abbott, Randy L. "Heretics." The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Vol. 2. Oxford University Press, 2008, 447-450.
Deakin, Michael A. B. "Hypatia." The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Vol. 2. Oxford University Press, 2008, 520-521.
Yount, Lisa. A to Z of Women in Science and Math. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1999. Print.

Biographies for Kids and Young Adults

Hypatia: Mathematician, Inventor, and Philosopher

Of Numbers And Stars: The Story of Hypatia

(picture book)

Research

Hypatia: Mathematician, Philosopher, Myth

Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician and Martyr

Historical Fiction

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