'Hypatia' Summary

Hypatia's life and work were cut short when she was brutally murdered by a mob of Christian fanatics led by the bishop Cyril of Alexandria. The murder of Hypatia was a turning point in the history of Alexandria and marked the end of the city's status as a center of learning and culture. Hypatia's death also had a profound impact on the development of Christianity, as it led to the rise of anti-intellectualism and the suppression of pagan thought and culture. John Toland's biography of Hypatia is a fascinating and insightful account of her life and work. Toland paints a vivid picture of the intellectual and cultural life of Alexandria in the 5th century AD and provides a detailed examination of Hypatia's philosophical and scientific thought. He also offers a trenchant critique of the Christian fanaticism that led to her murder.