Old But Gold Movies: Agora (2009) ~ Who Was Hypatia?

I recently read an article about female philosophers who were contemporaries with the male philosophers in the ancient world, like Aristotle, Epicurus, Socrates, etc. ("Wise Women: 6 Ancient Female Philosophers You Should Know About"). I did know one of the women philosophers named in the article: Hypatia. I knew of her because I saw a movie about her. Rachel Weisz played the part. 

 Agora (2009)

I love Rachel Weisz. She is a fantastic actress.  Of course, Ms. Weisz did a fantastic job of playing the role of Hypatia. But I did not like this movie. 

Why This Movie Was Hard for Me to Watch

Agora is a historical drama set in 4th-century Alexandria, following Hypatia’s life as a philosopher, astronomer, and teacher during a time of intense political and religious conflict. The movie depicts Hypatia’s death, and the Hollywood version is horrific.

But when I dug deeper into the real history?
The truth was far worse.

I won’t go into the details here—they’re too graphic—but learning what actually happened to the real Hypatia made the film even more heartbreaking. Hypatia was a scholar, a teacher, and by all accounts a peaceful person. She didn’t deserve the fate she met, either in the movie or in real life.

Despite my emotional reaction to the ending, I give Agora 4.5 out of 5 stars.  It’s beautifully acted, visually striking, and thought-provoking—just be prepared for a difficult final act.

Hypatia of Alexandria Biography for Kids: STEM History Adventure with Activities, Ages 8-12 (Women In STEM)