Hypatia of Alexandria(vers 355/370 — 415)

Revision and annotation of Diophantus of Alexandria's treatise on algebra. This work contributed to the transmission of this foundational text of ancient mathematics.

Pedagogical edition of the treatise on conic sections, making these advanced geometries accessible to students at her school.

Work carried out in collaboration with her father Theon on Ptolemy's great astronomical treatise. Hypatia is identified as the author of certain parts of Book III of the commentary.

Technical text transmitted through correspondence with Synesius, describing the construction of astronomical instruments, attesting to her practical knowledge of astronomy.

Public lectures on Plato and Plotinus, open to all regardless of their religion. Her teaching shaped a generation of Mediterranean intellectuals, several of whom went on to become Christian bishops.

To my mistress in philosophy, my mother, my sister, my teacher and everything that bears an honorable name... send me an astrolabe of the finest craftsmanship.

Hypatia, daughter of Theon the mathematician of Alexandria, herself a philosopher and very well known, surpassed her father in learning. She took the lead of the school of Plato and Plotinus, and expounded to all who wished to hear her the principles of philosophy.

There was a woman at Alexandria named Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher Theon, who had made such attainments in literature and science as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time.

The whole city loved and venerated her in an extraordinary way, but the leaders of the Church harbored a deep envy of her, for she often conversed with Orestes, and this caused a scandal in the ecclesiastical community.

Hypatia's birthplace and the city where she lived and taught. A major intellectual center of the ancient world, it housed the famous library and renowned schools of philosophy.

Intellectual institution where Alexandrian scholars taught. Theon, Hypatia's father, was affiliated with it, and it was in this environment that she received her education.

The hometown of Synesius, one of Hypatia's most important disciples. Their correspondence between Alexandria and Cyrene is a major testimony to her teaching.

Capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Synesius traveled there to defend his province and maintained a correspondence with Hypatia, who remained in Alexandria.