Hypatia- 1st female mathematician

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in A.D. 355, Hypatia was the first woman in the field of Mathematics with substantial contributions. Hypatia's distinction was emphasized by the fact that she was both female and pagan in a flourishing Christian environment (Fideler). Hypatia did not want to be treated as a woman. She made this clear by wearing the traditional white robe of the philosopher (Young 257).

She loved math for its own sake, the pure and exquisite delights it yielded her inquisitive mind (Osen 27). Her expertise went beyond Math, however, and branched into the fields of Philosophy, Astronomy, and religious matters. Socrates, Nicephorus and Philostorgius wrote about her great genius. They were generous in their praise of her characteristics and learning (Osen 28).

Born to Mathematician and Philosopher Theon, Hypatia was bound to have an enriched home environment. Theon was the director of the University of Alexandria. Alexandria was the greatest place for learning in the world at the time. Hypatia spent her early years at the University with close contact with an Institute called Museum (Osen 23). There is little information on Hypatia's mother.

Hypatia studied at the schools of Plato and Pythagoras. These schools were of the few that women could pursue a career. These school's emphasis were on Math. Hypatia's father was also of great influence on her education. Theon was her tutor, tutoring her in the arts, literature, science and philosophy.

At the time, mathematics was used for "calculating obscure problems as the locus of a given soul born under a certain planet" (Osen 24). It was thought that math calculations could determine where a given soul would be on a future date. Astronomy and Astrology were one science. Math was a bond between science and religion. Hypatia traveled abroad as part of her schooling. Her times abroad extended over a period of ten years although there is some argument about how long she spent abroad. Others say it was only around a year or so.

Her father wanted to have her "discriminate about religion and that no rigid belief take possession of her life to the exclusion of new truths" (Osen 24).

Theon says, "All formal dogmatic religions are fallacious and must never be accepted by self-respecting persons as final. Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all" (Osen 24).

Her father wanted her body to stay healthy and match her "formidable, swift, well-trained mind," (Osen 24) so he developed a workout for her to do every day. The activities she practiced were rowing, swimming, riding horseback and climbing mountains.

Preparation for becoming the "perfect human" that her father wanted her to become, she was given formal lessons in speech, rhetoric, the power of words, hypnotic suggestion, proper use of her voice, and using gentle tones. To the Romans, art of the public speaker was the most important of social graces. The ability to impress others by one's presence was considered a special gift.

Her father cautioned her about the vulnerability of permeable, impressionable mind of the young, against using "cosmic effect of rhetoric and pretense to influence or manipulate others" (Osen 25). He urged her to become a sensitive, gifted and eloquent teacher. There was no doubt that her father structured her every minute.

Hypatia was also a student in Athens, Greece under the teachings of Plutarch, The Younger and his daughter, Asclepigenia. It was in Greece that Hypatia became famous as a mathematician. Upon return to her home, the magistrates invited her to teach Mathematics and Philosophy at the University. She spent the last part of her life teaching where Ammonius, Hierocles and other scholars had taught.

Hypatia was a very popular teacher. Socrates the historian said her home, and her lecture room were visited by the most unrelenting scholars of the day and was the most compelling intellectual centers in the city (Osen 26). Students from Asia, Europe and Africa came to hear her lecture on the Arithmetica of Diophanus. The Arithmetica were his techniques, solutions of indeterminate problems of various types and symbolism he devised.

Synesius of Cyrene was Hypatia's most distinguished pupil. Synesius later became a wealthy and influential bishop of Ptolemais. Synesius provides the most important information on her life and teachings.

Besides teaching, Hypatia has had many other works. Hypatia co-authored with her father commentaries on Almagest, Greek astronomer Ptolemy's works that contained his observations of stars. She also analyzed Diophantus, the father of algebra (Calinger 474). A portion of her original treatise, On the Astronomical Canon of Diophantus was found in the Vatican library. It was most likely taken there when Constantinople had fallen to the Turks (Osen 27).

Hypatia wrote on the Conics of Apollonius. She was the author of treatises on mathematics. Hypatia also co-authored with her father on treatises on Euclid. The lists of titles attributed to her by Suidas, a lexicographer of Greek writings, have not come to us intact. The mob destroyed them when they destroyed Ptolemaic libraries in Alexandria (Osen 27). Her works were often prepared as texts for her students.

Letters addressed to "The Muse" or "Philosopher" were sent to Hypatia without doubt. Being so keen of Hypatia, Synesius wrote letters asking for Hypatia's scientific advice. These are one of our best sources of information concerning Hypatia and her works. The letters also credit her not only for her works and teachings but also with inventing many devices. They include the astrolabe and planesphere. These are devices designed for studying astronomy. She also invented an apparatus for distilling water, determining specific gravity of liquid and the level of water. The second was later named aerometer or hydroscope.

With such intelligence, grace and beauty, it was no wonder Hypatia received so many marriage proposals from princes and philosophers. She answered that she was "married to the truth."

Osen notes, "This pretty speech was no doubt more an evasion than a verity. It is more likely that she simply never met a suitor whose mind and philosophy matched her own" (29). Some sources note that although she never married, she had love affairs and various imaginary romances have been credited to her.

The school of Greek thought that Hypatia belonged to was Neo-Platonic. The objective intelligence of this school was counter to the beliefs of the dominant Christian religion (Osen 29). This threatened the Christian leaders. The Pietists considered Hypatia's philosophy heretical. Cyril became bishop of Alexandria in A.D. 412 and he started oppressing heretics (Calinger 475). Some Christians did not like Orestes. When conflict came between Cyril and Orestes, because of her friendship with Orestes, many blamed Hypatia for the conflict (Fideler).

Cyril almost captured the state and authority of civil magistrate. He leveled synagogues, set mobs on his critics and inflamed the passions of the people (Osen 30). This turbulent mood convinced him that his interests would best be served by sacrifice of a Virgin. In the spring of A.D. 415, the situation took a tragic turn when Cyril sent a mob to pull Hypatia from her chariot on the way to her classes at the University. The mob supposedly pulled out her hair, beat her, and dragged her body to a church where they mutilated her flesh with sharp tiles and burned her remains (Fideler).

Fearing his life, Orestes fled the city. Orestes felt responsible for Hypatia's death. He reported her death to Rome and asked for an investigation. The investigation was postponed because of a "lack of witness to the event." According to the Bishop, Hypatia was hiding in Athens and no tragedy had ever occurred (Osen 31). For many centuries after Hypatia's death, math remained somewhat quiet.

After researching Hypatia, I believe she was a very intelligent woman. Although she was very influential in math, her teachings, inventions and other contributions, I think her father went a bit overboard trying to turn Hypatia into the "perfect human." I think there is a point when a person can be too intellectual. It also seems like she could have viewed herself as too good for everyone else and would not give them a chance. It seems like although people may have looked up to her for advice and to learn, I do not think they looked up to her as a friend.