The Martyr Of Classical Civilization

Hypatia (AD370—AD415) lived in Alexandria, Egypt. The city was under the rule ofByzantine Empire. Hypatia was influenced by the classical culture of Alexandria. She becamea famous scholar. She was proficient at philosophy and mathematics, astronomy and physicswas also quite accomplished. A one of the representative figures of the classical culture in thetransitional phase of the classical period to the middle ages. Hypatia grew up in the classicalculture of Alexandria, and was murdered by the Christian in AD415.This paper discusses Hypatia with three aspects.The first part is under the background of the classical era to the middle ages. We shouldresearch the city of Alexandria, the neoplatonismand the development of Christianity inEgypt. Then we will throw light upon the new changes of these elements during this periodand its impact on Hypatia.The second part is the discourse Hypatia’s growth process, and the activities to achieveher academic ideals and philosophical ideal, and then summarize the academic achievementsofHypatia, analyze the core content of their philosophy.The main analysisof third part are the reasons of Hypatia’s tragic outcome, and themisinterpretation of her under the long Christianity historical period,and the modern scholars’new positive understanding and evaluation to Hypatia.The epiloguepart mainly analyzethe individual destiny of Hypatia, which reflects thetransition and integration from classical civilization to Christian civilization. Then furtherdiscusses the historical position of Hypatia.