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This study reconstructs Hypatia's existential and intellectual life and her modern Nachleben through a reception-oriented and interdisciplinary approach. Unlike previous publications on the subject, Hypatia explores all available ancient and medieval sources as well as the history of the reception of the figure of Hypatia in later history, literature, and arts in order to illuminate the ideological transformations/deformations of her story throughout the centuries and recover "the true story".
The intentionally provocative title relates to the contemporary historiographical notion of "false" or "fake history", as does the overall conceptual and methodological treatment. Through this reception-oriented approach, this study suggests a new reading of the ancient sources that demonstrates the intrinsically political nature of the murder of Hypatia, caused by the phtonos (violent envy) of the Christian bishop Cyril of Alexandria.
This is the first comprehensive treatment of the figure of Hypatia addressed to both academic readers - in Classics, Religious Studies, and Reception Studies - and a learned, non-specialist readership.
Revised edition in paperback.
Report
"Silvia Ronchey's original study of Hypatia, which came out over twenty years ago, set a new standard for the biography and impact of this famous philosopher and mathematician, and launched what the author calls 'an explosion of interes' (21). This new expanded edition in English, with updated bibliography, is therefore a particularly welcome addition to thegrowing number of books on Alexandria and its leading schools in the fourth and fifth centuries." Judith Herrin in: The Byzantine Review, 2022, https://www.uni-muenster.de/Ejournals/index.php/byzrev/article/view/3860/3916
