Hypatia

Biography:

Hypatia was a famous astronomer and mathematician Hellenistic Neoplatonist woman who was born in 355 AC in Alexandria (Egypt) and she died in 415 AC in the same place she was raised to the world.

She worked as philosopher, writer, teacher, but mostly astronomer and mathematician. As a matter of fact, she was considered the first woman being mathematician, so she was criticized by a lot of people, except the Christians.

During her life, thanks to her father Teon, she could learn almost everything about the world of astronomy and maths, so she was allowed to study in Teon's museums in Athens and Rome. However, she was the first women who devoted herself into science, since she was a child she was interested in science. She also was taught and properly taught philosophy, astronomy and mathematics lessons at Sarapeo's Library. Thanks to his father, she was interested into the investigation of everything that is unknown.

So much is known about her life thanks to lots of letters that were written between her and a bishop. Everyone admired her but for the Christians this was a threat and a bishop murdered Hipatia because of being sorceress and witch, we don't know exactly how she died but according to some investigations, in the year 415, she was arrested while she was arriving to her house and forced, also his remains were exhibited and burned.

Legacy:

This wise woman commented about the arithmetic of Diophantus, who was considered father of algebra, so she simplified and facilitated mathematical operations he invented, she also wrote eight books about geometry where she raised new problems, she developed a canon of astronomy, where she analyzed and mapped celestial bodies, and finally, Hypatia also invented some objects such as the astrolabe, the hydrometer, the hydroscope and an air meter which were used for mathematical objectives.

Unfortunately, almost all her projects, documents and letters were lost, the positive point of this is that we know that they existed upon a time because Hipatia's disciples wanted her to be known, so that's the clue that she inspired a lot of people. Nowadays, we have to recognise all her achievements and know her as the first woman in being mathematician as she was.

Film:

The name is Agora and is a film of her life that was released in 9th of October in 2009 and with a duration of 126 minutes, directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring by Rachel Weisz.

This film tell us very well the entire life of this first woman in science.