Hypatia of Alexandria, Egypt, daughter of the mathematician and philosopher Theon of Alexandria, was a mathematician, astronomer, teacher, and head of the Platonist school at Alexandria at about AD 400. She taught mathematics and natural philosophy; she invented several tools, such as an astrolabe and an instrument to measure the specific gravity of water; she was also an author of three major works on geometry and algebra as well as one on astronomy. She possessed an extraordinary amount of knowledge for her time. Her date of birth is uncertain: some historians believe that she was born in year 355 AD, whereas others argue that she was born in the year 370 AD1. She was murdered in 415, as a result of the false rumors that were spread about her during a religious/political struggle that began in the early 390s and that reached its height during 414-415.

In early 390s, Christianity began...