Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Agora Hypatia


Hypatia's death scene from the movie "Agora" directed by Alejandro Amenabar

A rather polite version going by actual historical accounts;
(From The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)

In the bloom of beauty, and in the maturity of wisdom, the modest maid Hypatia refused her lovers and instructed her disciples; the persons most illustrious for their rank or merit were impatient to visit the female philosopher; and Cyril beheld, with a jealous eye, the gorgeous train of horses and slaves who crowded the door of her academy.

A rumor was spread among the Christians, that the daughter of Theon was the only obstacle to the reconciliation of the praefect and the archbishop; and that obstacle was speedily removed.

On a fatal day, in the holy season of Lent, Hypatia was torn from her chariot, stripped naked, dragged to the church, and inhumanly butchered by the hands of Peter the reader, and a troop of savage and merciless fanatics: her flesh was scraped from her bones with sharp oyster shells, and her quivering limbs were delivered to the flames.

The just progress of inquiry and punishment was stopped by seasonable gifts; but the murder of Hypatia has imprinted an indelible stain on the character and religion of Cyril of Alexandria.




A timely comment - Her death marked the beginning of the Dark Ages as her ancient library and several others were destroyed by religious fanatics. Comment ensued and it was also mentioned that Edward Gibbons is the most credible yet least mentioned authority on the fall of the Roman Empire.

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