Hypatia was renowned in her own lifetime as a great teacher and a wise counselor in the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria. She was a prominent thinker, devoting herself to learning and teaching, leading the life of a respected academic at Alexandria's university. Ancient sources routinely depict Hypatia as a woman who was widely known for her generosity, love of learning, and expertise in teaching the subjects of Neoplatonism, mathematics, science, and philosophy.

Little is known of her life, but her dramatic death at the hands of Christian fanatics culminating from the escalating political feud between Alexandria’s religious faction and the governing body is well-documented. Her tragic and brutal murder sent shockwaves throughout the empire for centuries and many scholars cite her death as the end of the classical world.

Disclaimer: Hypatia was more intellectual damsel than difficult, and her story may have one of the most gruesome and tragic endings we have ever covered on our podcast. While we do not go into any sort of graphic detail, it is still very hard to hear. Listener discretion is advised.