Philosopher, scientist, inventor of the astrolabe.
Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all – was her motto.
For women of the ancient era, she was an inspiration and a beacon of hope. She was born about between 355 and 370 AD in Alexandria to an aristocratic family. She was the daughter of the astronomer and mathematician Theon of Alexandria, the last head of the Library of Alexandria.
No wonder that from childhood she was accompanied by the world of the ruling and cultural elite, meeting many well-born and influential personalities. The most important and maybe even the only love of her life turned out to be science. She manifested her versatile and extraordinary abilities in both mathematics and astronomy as well as philosophy. It is Hypatia who is credited with the construction of the astrolabe, an instrument for determining the position of celestial bodies above the horizon and determining latitude, and the areometer, a device for determining the relative density of liquids. Despite her exceptional knowledge and abilities, she led a modest life in the spirit of Neoplatonic philosophy.
Her achievements aroused envy and emotion. Accused by Christians of promoting pagan religions, of witchcraft and godlessness, she offended Bishop Cyril, jealous of Hypatia’s popularity. Probably on his orders, she was brutally murdered by religious fanatics in 415 in the streets of Alexandria.
