Hypatia

Hypatia of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician and Neoplatonist philosopher who taught in Roman Egypt. She was one of the first notable women in mathematics and philosophy, and her murder by a Christian mob in 415 CE made her a symbol of pagan learning's suppression.

Hypatia edited and commented on major mathematical and astronomical works, making advanced Neoplatonic learning accessible in Alexandria. Her life has become emblematic of the conflict between rational inquiry and religious intolerance, inspiring countless works of fiction, poetry, and historical scholarship.