Letters to Hypatia and Related Works - Illustrations #867742

Hypatia was a Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. She was a prominent thinker and she taught philosophy and astronomy. Ancient sources record that Hypatia was widely beloved by pagans and Christians alike and that she established great influence with the political elite in Alexandria. Toward the end of her life, Hypatia advised Orestes, the Roman prefect of Alexandria, who was in the midst of a political feud with Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria. Rumors spread accusing her of preventing Orestes from reconciling with Cyril and, in March 415 AD, she was murdered by a mob of Christians led by a lector named Peter.