Book Description

Hypatia--brilliant mathematician, eloquent Neoplatonist, and a woman renowned for her beauty--was brutally murdered by a mob of Christians in Alexandria in 415. She has been a legend ever since. In this engrossing book, Maria Dzielska searches behind the legend to bring us the real story of Hypatia's life and death, and new insight into her colorful world.

Historians and poets, Victorian novelists and contemporary feminists have seen Hypatia as a symbol--of the waning of classical culture and freedom of inquiry, of the rise of fanatical Christianity, or of sexual freedom. Dzielska shows us why versions of Hypatia's legend have served her champions' purposes, and how they have distorted the true story. She takes us back to the Alexandria of Hypatia's day, with its Library and Museion, pagan cults and the pontificate of Saint Cyril, thriving Jewish community and vibrant Greek culture, and circles of philosophers, mathematicians, astronomers, and militant Christians. Drawing on the letters of Hypatia's most prominent pupil, Synesius of Cyrene, Dzielska constructs a compelling picture of the young philosopher's disciples and her teaching. Finally she plumbs her sources for the facts surrounding Hypatia's cruel death, clarifying what the murder tells us about the tensions of this tumultuous era.

Customer Reviews (7)

One of History's Great Women
Whether your interest is women scholars or female scientists in antiquity, Christian history or pagan philosophy, this book is a major eye-opener.Hypatia--and all her female colleagues--deserve to be remembered, and Dzielska deserves credit for helping preserve their story.

Hypatia of Alexandria
For those who have never heard of Hypatia the back of this book gives you a quick summary of the woman:

'Hypatia - brilliant mathematician, eloquent Neoplatonist, and a woman renowned for her beauty - was brutally murdered by a mob of Christians in Alexandria in 415. She has been a legend ever since.'

This book is thin (106 pages, an additional forty to fifty provide sources, notes, and an index yet, despite its size, it manages to pull together a summary of Hypatia's life from the texts of the time by people lsuch as Socrates Scholasticus and Synesius.

Essentially, it's an interpretation of these historical texts that reconstructs who Hypatia was, how she lived, and why she was brutally murdered.

The book begins by examining the enduring legend of Hypatia by looking at the literary references in which she is portrayed (19th Century novels, and poetry) and continues to examine her by looking at the people who lived around here. Moving on, Dzielska looks at Hypatia herself from trying to determine the year of her birth to describing the terrible death to which she succumbed and, looks at who - ultimately - was responsible.* After looking at Hypatia, the author resolves the woman's history and offers a conclusion to her book.

It was certainly an interesting book in both the uncommon subject matter and the way that the life within was completely reconstructed from writings of the day as none of Hypatia's work is believed to exist anymore. It does not cover life in Alexandria or describe the Great Library but, as the title suggests, this is not about Alexandria - there will, no doubt, be books on that topic.

It's worth reading if a) you have an interest in philosophy or mathematics; or b) you are a feminist looking for a new heroine. (She was, afterall, the only major female of scientific note prior to Marie Curie.)


* She was stripped naked, dragged through the streets to a church, where many proceeded to strip the flesh from her bones using broken pottery. Her remains were then tossed on a fire.

Legend and history.
Prof. Dzielska unravels the real life and murder of Hypatia.
Instead of the legendary young virgin martyr for paganism, she sketches a, for the period, remarkable older woman and teacher of neoplatonism and tolerance.
Her murder was instigated by the vicious ploys of a jealous catholic archbishop and executed by his ignorant mob. It was a political murder.

This book should be read because it treats of an age-old conflict that still rages in the world today: the power struggle between the civil (secular) and religious authorities.

This small work is a difficult (based on very few original sources), but very convincing reconstitution of the life of one of the very few known remarkable women of that age. A revealing work.

Female Socrates
Socrates was executed by the state of Athens as a scapegoat for its defeat by the Spartans.His crime was being a free thinker in a short age of turmoil.He was however fondly remembered and documented.Hypatia was first brought to my attention by Carl Sagan in his television series Cosmos.She has often been represented as a pillar of wisdom in an age of growing dogma.Unlike with Socrates we know much less about her life and teachings.She is remembered precisely as a martyr who was sacrificed rather than executed by a literalist Christian mob inspired by "St" Cyril, apparently as she was regarded as a threat to Christendom and theology by certain regio-political figures.Enough material on her survived not least owing to the strong memories evoked at the manner of her despatch which turned her into a historical icon.

This excellent short well sourced book is a biographic scenography in the best sense of the word.It does not sadly cover the destruction of the great library or go into great length about the history and politics of 4th century Alexandria but it blows the cobwebs and embelishments that are associated with this enigmatic figure leaving a strong, uncompromising educated presence who would have been of extreme high standing to have obtained the death she received at the hands of bigots.

The importance of Hypatia is that she represents a phase in history where Greek religion was being destroyed by the then politicised Roman state religion.Hypatia represents a tragic victim of this dark phase when a great deal of knowledge was irrevocably lost (e.g.Gandy and Freke, the Jesus Mysteries etc.,).

To know the real Hypatia, and that phase of history, this is one of the best places to begin.

Going behind the curtain . . .
Those who have an interest in the Fourth Century are familiar with the name Hypatia of Alexandria.Unfortunately she has become a figure of legend and myth.Maria Dzielska's small, short book (106 pages, each about5-1/2" x 8-1/2" ) first examines the various persons that made her a myth,as well as their motivations.It then goes to the source documents, sortsthrough the credibility of each, and then redraws our picture of Hypatia. (For example, most encyclopedias give Hypatia's date of birth as about 370. Dzielska builds a strong case that she was born about 15 years earlierthan that, and was in her 60's when she was murdered). This book excelsin distinguishing fact from fiction - in other words it is a work ofhistorical research.Dzielska also points out where her knowledge ends andher inferences begin. This virtue - once known as humility - alsocontributes to the value of this book.As one would expect, it has anannotated bibliography ("Sources"), is fully footnoted, and includes a goodindex.Those whose interest in Hypatia involves "her meaning" may bedisappointed; those who want the truth about her will find this a usefulpiece of research and analysis.Maria Dzielska's book could be used as asourcebook on HOW historical figures are appropriated for the political orreligious agendas of persons less interested in "the facts" than "making apoint".This alone makes it of wider interest than it might otherwiseappear. ... Read more

Book Description
In the late fourth and early fifth centuries of our era,Hypatia of Alexandria was the world's greatest living mathematician andastronomer. A strikingly beautiful woman and a devoted celibate, she livedin a city as turbulent and troubled as Baghdad or Beirut is today. Sheachieved fame not only in her special field, but also as a philosopher,religious thinker, and teacher who attracted a large popular following. Herlife ended tragically in violence at the hands of a rampaging mob ofChristian fanatics, who killed her for her "pagan" beliefs, some say at theinstigation of St. Cyril of Alexandria.

This is the first biography of Hypatia to integrate all aspects of herlife. Mathematician Michael Deakin emphasizes that, though she was aphilosopher, she was first and foremost a mathematician and astronomer ofgreat accomplishment. In a fascinating narrative that brings to life arichly diverse ancient society, he describes her work so that themathematics, presented in straightforward terms, finds its true place inthe context of her life as a whole. Deakin supplies full detail on thehistorical, intellectual, and religious context of Hypatia's times. He alsoanalyzes the pattern of her life and thought, and finally gives an accountof the events leading up to her lynch-mob execution.

Although this outrageous crime has made Hypatia a powerful symbol ofintellectual freedom and feminist aspiration to this day, Deakin makesclear that the important intellectual contributions of her life's workshould not be overshadowed by her tragic death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very good
This book is very good. The historical context about Hypatia's time and life is very interesting. Read this book, you'll learn much more about the christian's church in the first times.

A specialist's view
This is a difficult book to evaluate. Deakin is a mathematician, not a classical historian, and apart from his discussion of Hypatia's place in Alexandrian mathematics, this biography contains little that is not already to be found elsewhere, most notably in Dzielska's study. Deakin does a reasonable job of putting Hypatia in a cultural context, but his understanding of late antiquity is superficial and admittedly garnered largely from encyclopedias. On the other hand, he has closely studied the sources for Hypatia's life (which he includes in an appendix) and the meagre evidence for her influence on philosophy and science. His introduction to astrolabes and conic sections is of some intrinsic interest and helps illuminate the state of knowledge in the fifth century, but since we have not one shred of writing that is inarguably Hypatia's work, the connection is rather tenuous. Nonetheless Deakin's conclusions give a valuable new perspective on this best-known of female Hellenists: one of a teacher with a wide range of interests, if not an original thinker. ... Read more

Product Description
It was in the illustrious city of Alexandria that the celebrated beauty Hypatia, (Hy-pa-sha) a Fifth Century “renaissance” woman lived her brief but brilliant life as a professor of philosophy, mathematics, chemistry and astronomy. Bishop Cyril despised Hypatia and ordered her brutal death. His army destroyed her manuscripts and inventions as Cyril attempted to erase her name from history. Her trusted scribe and lover, Ramas, however hid her secret scrolls in the ancient city of Petra.Her brilliance is stated in Carl Sagan’s #1 best seller, Cosmos, “The glory of the Alexandrian library is a dim memory. Its last remnants were destroyed soon after Hypatia’s death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Hardly Historical
With a 15-year interest in Hypatia & Alexandria, I have read or skimmed most of the literature for general readers, and a little of the specialist literature (such as the 10th-century Suda, parts of which are available on-line).I got "Holy Murder" from my local library.A quick skim was enough.

With that preamble, let the reader beware:Holy Murder belongs in the Harlequin Romance section.Historical details are shaky, and the novelistic inventions are gratuitous - not consonant with what little we know of 5th-century Alexandria.If you're going to invent stuff, is it too much to ask that you do a little historical research before hand?Is it too much to ask that you at least be aware of Hypatia's proudest claim - life-long celibacy?Ramos - scribe & lover; good Gawd.

Readers wishing to know the historical Hypatia are encouraged first to spend some quality time w/ Maria Dzielka's "Hypatia of Alexandria."It's a bit dry, as all patient, scholarly works must be, but Patient Reader's efforts will be well rewarded.Among a great many things, the reader will discover Dzielka's strong case that Hypatia's murder was political, not religious, cutting the ground out, even, from under Kramer's title.

The only other fact-based work for the general reader that I'm aware of is Michael Deakin's "Hypatia - Mathematician & Martyr."His book overlaps Dzielka's a bit, but he also supplements it by providing a thorough analysis of Hypatia's mathematical contributions, which were significant (Mathophobics alert:It's not all that difficult).Before publishing his book, Deakin also maintained a web page of all the contemporary & quasi-contemporary sources (such as the Suda)on Hypatia.Would you be surprised that they can be listed on a single sheet?That's how little we really know - not so much as a scrap from Hypatia's own hand; almost all from her adoring pupil, Synesius of Cyrene (BUT: both Dzielska & Deakin make a good case that modern editions of Euclid's "Elements" are all direct descendents of Hypatia's edition, so her most important work lives on, in spite of all the romantic nonsense that clings barnacle-like to her name).

Call me a prematurely old fogey (all of 55!), but I find facts and history so much more interesting than romance.

Lots of fiction - little history
Be careful with this - the reader should know that this is fiction, though the description does not mention it. I was expecting a historical study of this amazing woman - this is a fictionalized and romanticized "historical" novel with no bibliography, index or footnotes. I cannot recommend it for someone interested in the real story of Hypatia.

History & Kramer - Perfect Together!
OUTSTANDING book!Charlotte Kramer is to history, what Rachael Ray is to olive oil.An author who seamlessly blends color, passion and historical accuracy with an intriguing love story.

You'll share the wonderment of Hypatia's students as she teaches you the wonders she's uncovered; you'll hate Cyril for his treachery and you'll cheer Ramas for his undying love and devotion of the woman he adores.

Pick up this book and be ready to read all night! A MUST READ for any reader who wants to be swept away by a story and characters penned to capture your heart!Bravo.

Captivating - I didn't want Hypatia to die!
The research that went into this book to make it so real blew me away. I was there in the amphitheater, listening to this intelligent beautiful Hypatia teach our class, drawing in the sand in the center since there were no black boards. Her murder horrified me. Her courage to be a woman in a man's worldinspired me. The beautiful love story of total and complete devotion to one another touched my heart. What more can I say other than...Wow! I have recommended this book over and over as a MUST READ book. ... Read more

Book Description
Hypatia (370÷415 A.D.), heiress to the Alexandrian School, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and forerunner of experimental science, conceived of and constructed the astrolabe, the hydroscope and the aerometre. Adriano Petta and Antonino Colavito have written this book, consisting of two themes intertwined like a double helix, to honour the memory of Reason's first martyr, who preferred to be slaughtered rather than giving up her freedom of thought. The first focuses on Hypatia as a woman and describes her daily activities (private, scientific and political) in an accurately reconstructed historical context, recounting a life that becomes more and more dramatic till brought to an end as described in a shattering epilogue. The second theme is the voice of Hypatia which, punctuating the first with episodes or 'dreams', describes her research work. It is through the latter that she teaches and communicates with those who listen to her, both academics and ordinary people, as a master of scientific knowledge the origins of which go back at least a thousand years before her time, and which the demise of the Hellenic world and the triumph of Christianity was to bury for many centuries, until the birth of modern science, from Galileo onwards. ... Read more