Hypatia was a Greek astronomer and philosopher, born around 350 AD in Alexandria, Egypt. She was the daughter of the mathematician Theon of Alexandria and the sister of the philosopher Damascius. Hypatia's father had been a teacher at the Museum in Alexandria. In his youth, Hypatia had been a student of Ptolemy, which explains why he would have been familiar with her astronomical observations
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Following her father's death, Hypatia became curator of the Museum and taught mathematics and astronomy at the Museum and at Alexandria University.
Once it became clear to her that Christianity was heretical and contradicted many teachings of Greek philosophy, she left Alexandria to start a school for girls in Athens, which she named after herself — "Hypatia". With great learning and forcefulness she defended paganism against Christian dogma and prevented its conversion into an established religion.
In 415 AD, a Christian mob attacked Hypatia's school. She died in the massacre, along with other scholars she had taught, including the mathematician Theon.