Diane Hypatia(PART 2 OF 3)
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The library was not only a cultural symbol, but also a religious one, a place where the pagans worshipped their ancestral gods.
The city's long-established pagan cult was now challenged by the Jewish faith and a rapidly spreading religion until recently banned: Christianity.
After the storming of the library, many pagans converted to Christianity and Alexandria enjoyed a time of peace.
Hypatia continued her teching and research, while her former disciples occupied important posts among the social elite.
The Roman empire finally split into two parts.
Many Christians saw this as a sign of the end of the world and decided to prepare themselves by living holier lives.
The story uses historical fiction to highlight the relationship between religion and science amidst the decline of Greco-Roman polytheism and the Christianization of the Roman empire.
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Cyril (Sami Samir)
The leader of the Christians, Cyril (Sami Samir), views Hypatia as having too much influence over Orestes and stages a public ceremony intended to force Orestes to subjugate her.
Hypatia's former pupil, Synesius, now the Bishop of Cyrene, comes to her rescue as a religious authority counterweight, but says he cannot help her unless she accepts Christianity; she refuses.
Hypatia makes a personal discovery, theorizing that the Earth orbits around the Sun in an elliptic, not circular, orbit with the Sun at one of the foci.
Cyril convinces a mob of Christians that Hypatia is a witch and they vow to kill her.
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Hypatia among the mob
Davus tries to run ahead to warn Hypatia, but she is captured by the mob.
They strip Hypatia naked and are about to skin her alive until Davus persuades the mob otherwise, and they decide to stone her instead.
When everyone goes outside to collect stones, Davus secretly suffocates her to spare her the pain of being stoned to death and tells the mob that she fainted.
Davus leaves as they begin to stone her.
Hypatia's mutilated body was dragged through the streets and burnt on a pyre.
Orestes disappeared, never to be seen again.
Cyril seized power of Alexandria.
Much later, Cyril was declared a saint and doctor of the Church.
Although none of Hypatia's works survived, it is known that she was an outstanding astronomer and renowned for her mathematical studies for her conic curves.
1200 years later, in the 17th century, the astronomer Johannes Kepler discovered that one of these curves, the eclipse, governs the motion of the planets.
It is thought-provoking and quite fascinating!
Kato, how many more DVDs are you gonna borrow?
I'm trying to watch 1,001 movies in the library.
I see... So, the 1,001st movie will be "One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights)," huh?
You're telling me, Diane.
By the way, Diane, have you ever watched "Agora"?
No, I haven't. I think I'm gonna borrow one myself.
Don't worry about it. I've got a full movie for you. I've just pasted the video clip here:
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Kato, do you like the movie?
Yes, of course, I do.
Tell me, Kato, what impressed you most.
Well ... I'd say Pharos---the lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders.
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And, of course, Library of Alexandria.
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The lighthouse and the library ... is that all?
Well ... lastly, but not the least important ... Hypatia herself ... Her talent, beauty and the tragic death.
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You see, Diane, she is the last philosopher of the Hellenistic Era. Cyril, the leader of the Christians, convinced a mob of Christians to kill her. And her death, I think, actually started the Dark Age in the Christian world.
Why did he want to kill her in the first place?
Well ... I think Cyril viewed Hypatia as a threat to his own dignity and power. He must have understood that she was much smarter than himself.
So, Cyril's inferiority complex and jealousy killed Hypatia. Is that it?
You're telling me, Diane. Cyril was a self-righteous, bigoted and opinionated man---the kind of guy I hate most in the human history.
Kato, you're quite mad with him because he killed the most beautiful woman at the time, aren't you?
No, not really. Actually, I'm speaking on your behalf.
On my behalf?
Yes, I am. If Hypatia had survived, she would have educated more women, some of whom would probably have gone into politics and gained the right to vote.
Do you really think so, Kato?
Yes, very much so. Unfortunately, the Christian mob killed Hypatia, and the coming of other intelligent and politically-powerful women died with her. Women had to wait for 1500 years to obtain the right to vote.
1500 years?
Yes, Hypatia was killed in 415. The American women voted for the first time in 1920, and the Japanese women voted in 1946.
Kato, are you a feminist?
Yes, of course, I am... Actually, an enthusiastic feminist.
【Himiko's Monologue】
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World refers to remarkable constructions of classical antiquity listed by various authors in guidebooks popular among the ancient Hellenic tourists, particularly in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.
The most prominent of these, the versions by Antipater of Sidon and an observer identified as Philo of Byzantium, comprise seven works located around the eastern Mediterranean rim.
The original list inspired innumerable versions through the ages, often listing seven entries.
Of the original Seven Wonders, only the Great Pyramid of Giza (the oldest of the ancient wonders) remains intact.
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In any case, I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.
Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...
(To be followed)