| Heroines of The Divine Feminine |
| Hypatia of Alexandria By Silvia J. Pancaro University of Phoenix Humanities 100 Paper & Presentation March 17, 2003 The potentiality for what is commonly termed “genius” is in within every individual. However, some individuals have expressed their own genius on grander scales than others, establishing a fame for themselves, that records their names in the history books forevermore. Their name and the legacy of their particular contribution to humanity, inspires our own internal genius to step forth. As a woman, with somewhat spiritually eclectic and pagan beliefs, I am drawn to certain feminine historical figures whom I look to for inspiration. One such figure was Hypatia of Alexandria: Woman, Pagan, Philosopher, Teacher, Mathematician and Astronomer. I present this Genius of the Hellenistic period, for your wonderment and appreciation. "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.” Hypatia of Alexandria 370 to 415 A.D. |
| What is genius? I believe genius is “the peculiar structure of mind with which each individual is endowed by nature; that disposition or aptitude of mind which is peculiar to each man and which qualifies him for certain kinds of actions or special success in any pursuit...peculiar character, animatory spirit, as of a nation, a religion, a language.” (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, from http://dictionary.reference.com, retrieved March 15, 2003). I believe that I have my own genius which is expressed outwardly in the artistic and philosophical actions I take in my own life. My genius is the talent with which I was born; it is the gift I have been endowed with and it is my duty and mission to share this special gift with humanity, as have those that came before me. Whether I choose to do so on a grand scale, wherein entire nations and civilizations would know my name, or I do so only within my particular inner group of society - my familial community - is perhaps yet to be seen. However, I find my example in the forerunners of human history, to show me the possibilities of my own genius. As I mentioned previously, I am particularly drawn to the women in history who have expressed themselves openly, in spite of the limiting prevalent social mindset in which they lived. I have found that where the term “genius” is generic, it has its roots in Roman mythology, where we can also find its feminine counterpart. Genius was originally ascribed to the male children, whereas the female children had their individual “Juno”. ("Genius." Encyclopedia Mythica. www.pantheon.org Retrieved March 15th, 2003). Both terms are the same, meaning a guiding spiritual force that was assigned to the child, protecting it and leading him/her throughout the course of his/her life...it is “the creative force which engendered the individual” (New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology, translated by Richard Aldington & Delano Ames). One woman in the history of humanity who brightly stood out from amongst her male contemporaries, was Hypatia of Alexandria. In a culture and a time where men ruled, Hypatia established herself as not only an equal, but actually surpassed many of the men. Her role in society was that of Philosopher, Teacher, Mathematician, Astronomer and the Head of the Museum/Library of Alexandria. She learned from her father, a most notable philosopher and mathematician himself, and quickly took to teaching others the beliefs and philosophies of Plato and Socrates. Hypatia was a most learned woman, just, beautiful and chaste. She was greatly loved and admired due to her wisdom and fairness. According to Socrates Scholasticus in his Ecclesiastical History, Hypatia “made such attainments in literature and science, as to far surpass all the philosophers of her own time...On account of the self-possession and ease of manner, which she had acquired in consequence of the cultivation of her mind, she not infrequently appeared in public in presence of the magistrates...For all men on account of her extraordinary dignity and virtue admired her the more.” (The Life of Hypatia by Socrates Scholasticus, Retrieved March 15, 2003) Living at a time when already the established system was patriarchal, it didn't help that Christianity was in its most heated period of destroying any other belief system other than its own to thus establish itself as the dominating religious sect. As a result, the combination of political intrigue with Hypatia’s sex, philosophical ideals and great popularity, became her death sentence, as deemed by Cyril, the Christian bishop of Alexandria (St. Cyril of Alexandria). “In the spring of 415 C.E., the situation reached a tragic conclusion when a band of Christian monks seized Hypatia on the street, beat her, and dragged her body to a church where they mutilated her flesh with sharp tiles and burned her remains.” (1993 by Phanes Press. www.cosmopolis.com-Quote retrieved March 16, 2003). Most of her contributions have been erased from historical texts, especially with the final destruction of the Library of Alexandria. What remains is little, and found in texts written by others referring to Hypatia, particularly her own most famed student, Synesius of Cyrene. According to the texts, most of her brilliance and genius was in the field of mathematics, science, philosophy and astronomy. Her contributions on a literary scale were: A Commentary on the Arithmetica of Diophantus; A Commentary on the Conics of Apollonious; Editing of Theon’s (her father), Commentary on the Almagest of Ptolemy. She is attributed with having assisted in the creation of the Astrolabe, an astronomical instrument. Hypatia is credited even by the NASA: “Sixteen hundred years ago, Hypatia became one of the world's leading scholars in mathematics and astronomy. Hypatia's legendary knowledge, modesty, and public speaking ability flourished during the era of the Great Library of Alexandria. Hypatia is credited with contributions to geometry and astrometry, and she is thought instrumental in the development of the sky-measuring astrolabe - a very ancient astronomical computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky.” I believe that we may never come to know the full extent of the impact this Genius made upon our contemporary cultures, due to the destruction of her works. However, as we have seen from NASA’s statements, her intelligence has found its way into instruments of science which were the basis of much of today’s technologically advanced machines. I believe, that much of Hypatia’s contribution comes to us even as an example of what can be accomplished, even in the face of socially and politically adverse conditions. She is the quintessential “modern woman” in that she conquered in a male-dominated society, in spite of the religious dogma of the time. Though she may have been brutally massacred at the hands of religious zealots, her legacy remains to this day. Her wisdom and genius is forever recorded by contemporary man, having a planetary body named after her. From my research into Hypatia's life and genius, I have come to believe that her Legacy to Humanity was great indeed, as outlined below:
We might also ask ourselves,
And furthermore, we might make the bold statement,
(*Above quotes are from Silvia Pancaro as written for her Humanities class) “Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.” Hypatia's Words!
Copyright, Silvia J. Pancaro 2003 This material is copyrighted and my not be duplicated in any form. |
Heroines of: CAULDRON OF THE GODDESS
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