FAQ About Hypatia

A common misconception about Hypatia is that she was solely a mathematician. In reality, her contributions spanned philosophy and astronomy as well. Additionally, her death is sometimes romanticized or oversimplified as a singular moment of science versus religion, when in fact, it was the result of complex socio-political and religious dynamics in Alexandria. Another misconception is the belief that she invented the hydrometer, though this is debated amongst historians.