Laurel A. Rockefeller - Hypatia of Alexandria

Hypatia of Alexandria

By Laurel A. Rockefeller

Cover art by Rachel Bostwick

This book isbased on events in the life of Hypatia of Alexandria andconstructed using primary and secondary historical sources,commentary, and research. Except when quoting primary sources,dialogue and certain events were constructed and/or reconstructedfor dramatization purposes according to the best available researchdata. Consulted sources appearat the end of this book. Interpretation of source material is atthe authors discretion and utilized within the scope of theauthors imagination, including names, events, and historicaldetails.

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2017 by LaurelA. Rockefeller

All RightsReserved.

Prologue

Magistra, thebooks you wished to borrow have arrived! knelt the young novice asher prioress tended a patient at Disibodenberg inNaheland in west-central Germany.

Prioress Hildegarde rose and wiped her hands on a towel,Excellent. Did the brother specify how long I may borrowthem?

No, Magistra.

Hildegarde headed towards the priory library, Well then Iwill have to ask him myself before he departs.

May I askwhat is so important about these particularbooks?

They are thewritings of ancient Greek mathematicians and astronomers. Wisdom ofthe ancient world, a world that was very different from the one welive in today, answered Hildegarde.

But suchknowledge is forbidden!

Yes, itis.

Then why riskit?

God speaks tomany peoplenot only to Christians. If there is something of valueto be learned then I wish to learn it, no matter who God teaches itto. Arriving at the library, Hildegarde smiled at the tablecovered with over a dozen heavy volumes, Thank you for bringingthese, Brother. How long will your master permit me to reviewthem?

The brotherpicked up one volume, Two months, though he said he would considerlonger if the need should arise. He said you would be particularlyinterested in this one.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers by Socrates ofConstantinople?

The monkflipped to the first page of chapter fifteen, Yes. Take a lookhere!

Hildegarde readaloud, Of Hypatia the Female Philosopher. There was a woman atAlexandria named Hypatia, daughter of the philosopher Theon, whomade such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpassall the philosophers of her own time. Intriguing! Do many know ofthis Hypatia?

No,Magistra.

Because shewas a woman?

I thinkperhaps the answer will become clear with further reading.

Agreed!smiled Hildegarde as she sat down and began to read.

ChapterOne

Alexander theGreats masterpiece metropolis, the great city of Alexandriaglittered like a jewel against the sparkling Nile River. Shipsladen with exotic goods glided into its many docks as merchantsreadied for trading. Shop keepers watched anxiously for deliveriesin the early morning light. The sound of heavy carts merged withthe din of a thousand conversations in Greek, Latin, and Hebrewslowly grew louder. The rosy-fingered dawn yielded to a golden-blueday. In the main library Theon of Alexandria busied himself withreturning books to their proper places. A middle-aged manapproached him. Theon bowed to him respectfully, Kaleemera keerie katheegeeta.

Kaleemera, Theon. You arehere early, observed the librarian.

My wife is due to givebirth anytime now.

Then you should be athome, not here shelving books like a first-yearnovice.

I am anxious for the birthand for her safety.

All the more reason to behome.

But what can I do?Would Eileithyia hear myprayers if I offered them? Surely notthats if she exists atall.

We can only do what we cando, Theon. Right now, your wife needs you more than I do. Go home.I promise the library will still be here when you are ready toreturn, smiled the librarian.

Theon nodded, Efcharist, katheegeeta.

Twenty minutes later Theon arrived home. A baby cried softly.Theon opened the door to his bed chamber to find his wife tired butsafe, her new-born resting against her breast. The midwife turnedto Theon, Congratulations, Sir. Its girl.

Theon sighed with relief and thanksgiving,Efcharist, Eileithyia. Praise be to Eileithyia; praise beto Hera!

Theons wifesmiled, What shall we call her, Theon?

Hypatia forshe shall be the greatest of all women.

Itshopeless! cried Hypatia as she threw her drop spindle across theroom, her wildly uneven yarn unwinding clumsily from the spindlesshaft. Her nanny, a slave named Iola, picked up the spindle fromthe floor. Hypatia fell into her arms. I cant do it!

Iola soothedher, My lady you are only five years old! Do you really expectyourself to spin as if you were a woman grown with children of herown?

Every time Itry to draw the wool out it falls apart. When I try to mend the twoends together, it falls apart more.

Iola picked upthe spindle and the wool and then sat in a nearby chair, You cando it, I know you can. Here, watch, see how I overlap the two endsand hold both together between my fingers? Now hold that tightwhile winding the spindle tight and slipping it here into the notchand there into the small hook. Do you see?

Hypatia satdown beside her, Yes.

Okay now watchas I twirl the shaft. The wool between my fingers is now tight andbound together. What I do next is slowing move my hand towards thepart that is not twisted at all, not very far, just an inch atfirst, very slowly. See? Now here Im going to wind the spindle sothat the part we just put together is between the hook and theshaft. As long as this is tight, the yarn will not come apart and Ican slowly start to draw it out again. See? Its not hopeless. Youcan do it if you practice, smiled Iola as she handed the spindleback to Hypatia.

Hypatia twirledthe spindle. Out of control it landed on the floor with a softthud, I told you! Im hopeless!

Hopeless atwhat? asked Theon as he entered the room.

Spinning! Patras, I cant do it! Im no good at womenswork. I cant spin. I cant embroider. I cant sew. I cant cook!No one will ever want to marry me, at least not for my ownsake!

Theon sat down beside her, With a good match you wont haveto. Slaves will do it for you and you can spend your days doingwhatever you wish to do.

But what am I suited for, Patras? How can I ever be arespectable lady like mother is?

Theon smiled reassuringly, Perhaps there is more than oneway to become a respectable lady.

How?

You could always help me with my work, offeredTheon.

A female philosopher? People will laugh at meor worse! Zeusmade Pandora, mother of all women, to punish mankind for the trickPrometheus played on him. There is no honour in being a girl and noplace among the educated for girls or women to learn let aloneteach as you do, protested Hypatia.

The law commands that you, my daughter, obey me. Do youagree?

Yes. What do you wish me to do?

I command that you spend your days in study and when you areold enough, you will come with me to the temple where I teach mystudents.

They will stone me if I come! objected Hypatia.

No, they wont, Hypatia, because I command it and under thelaw, you are my legal property. I have the right to take you to myclasses if I wish and ask of you anything I desire. Not one manwill act against it, no matter how he feels about your presencethere.

Very well then, Patras. I shall obey. When do you want meto start?

Tonight. We will go up together to the roof to look at thestars and I will show you the geometry of the heavens.

Hypatia huggedhim, Efcharist, Patras!

You are verywelcome, Hypatia!