Classical Wisdom Litterae - February 2022

ematician eak ed eak ed Hypatia The LastAcademic By Mary Naples T hey came to her by land. They came to her by sea. They came to her from the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire, and they came to her from close by. Amongst the literati, Hypatia (355-415 CE), an acclaimed philosopher and leading mathematician, was a rock star. She was bold, she was beautiful, but most of all, she was brilliant. Her students, many of them adherents in the burgeoning new religion, Christianity, adored her and flocked to hear her every word. Congregating not only in the classroom but in the public square and even at her home—just to hear her speak. Hers was the school all serious students throughout the empire wished to attend. But students weren’t the only ones who were captivated by her brilliance. Amongst academics from near and from far, she was the one with whom they sought council. But how did Hypatia, a woman in a deeply misogynist society, earn such high acclaim? She was bold, she was beautiful, but most of all, she was brilliant. gors4730/AdobeStock 21 Litterae | Issue 70