Soraya Field Fiorio: The murder of ancient Alexandria's greatest scholar

The murder of ancient Alexandria's greatest scholar

In the city of Alexandria in 415 CE, the bishop and the governor were in a fight. It started with a disagreement over the behavior of a militia of monks, and ended with an accusation of witchcraft leveled against one of the most powerful figures in the city: Hypatia, philosopher and advisor to the city's leaders. Who was Hypatia and why was she deemed a threat? Soraya Field Fiorio investigates. [Directed by Biljana Labovic, narrated by Susan Zimmerman, music by Stephen LaRosa].

Hypatia, a renowned mathematician and philosopher, shaped Alexandria as its leading scholar and advisor during a time of great political and religious upheaval. Her commitment to teaching across faiths and advocating reason made her both celebrated and dangerous in a city torn by conflict. In 415 CE, after being accused of witchcraft in a power struggle between church and state, she was murdered by a mob of monks. Her death marked the decline of Alexandria’s vibrant intellectual life and the loss of a spirit devoted to inquiry and fairness.