138 WOMAN IN SCIENCE 



matician and astronomer and as a professor in the school 

 of Alexandria, which was then probably the greatest seat 

 of learning in the world. Born about the year 375 A. D., 

 she at an early age evinced the possession of those talents 

 that were subsequently to render her so illustrious. So 

 great indeed was her genius and so rapid was her progress 

 in this branch of knowledge under the tuition of her father 

 that she soon completely eclipsed her master in his chosen 

 specialty. 



There is reason to believe although the fact is not defi- 

 nitely established that she studied for a while in Athens 

 in the school of philosophy conducted by Plutarch the 

 Younger and his daughter Asclepigenia. After her re- 

 turn from Athens, Hypatia was invited by the magistrates 

 of Alexandria to teach mathematics and philosophy. Here 

 in brief time her lecture room was filled by eager and en- 

 thusiastic students from all parts of the civilized world. 

 She was also gifted with a high order of eloquence and 

 with a voice so marvelous that it was declared to be "di- 

 vine." 



Regarding her much vaunted beauty, nothing certain is 

 known, as antiquity has bequeathed to us no medal or 

 statue by which we could form an estimate of her physical 

 grace. But, be this as it may, it is certain that she com- 

 manded the admiration and respect of all for her great 

 learning, and that she bore the mantle of science and phi- 

 losophy with so great modesty and self-confidence that she 

 won all hearts. A letter addressed to "The Muse," or to 

 "The Philosopher" TV ^tXoo-o^o) was sure to be de- 

 livered to her at once. Small wonder, then, to find a Greek 

 poet inditing to her an epigram containing the following 

 sentiment : 



' ' When I see thee and hear thy word I thee adore ; it is 

 the ethereal constellation of the Virgin, which I contem- 

 plate, for to the heavens thy whole life is devoted, august 



