h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hypatia was amazing because she was a woman. I think her story's important, so I wrote the entry.

Hello.
Your post about Hypatia is on page 3 of the peer review forum.
Nobody replied to your post, which I think it is sad, cos it refers to an interesting guide entry.

Concise, to the point, interesting, well laid out. Can't say much about the factual content cos I don't know anything about hypatia (well I didn't until I read this!).
All I would suggest is that you expand on the last bit about her being amazing cos she was a woman - do you imply that because of the society she lived in it was amazing for a woman to be so influential?

I'll be putting this one on my list of recommended entries.

- Adam

Thank you I was beginning to think that no one would ever notice this post!

My point about her being amazing is that there were no other prominent women in maths until at least this century. Although most people haven't heard of Hypatia, there is a lot of stuff written about her... ...and I've never found anything else about a female mathematician, especially not one who flourished so early.

Does that make sense?

I'll agree with the fact that female mathematicians are rather uncommon, but out here in India, we had this guy called Aryabhatt(I think the story is about this guy, but I'm not sure) and he had to get his daughter married off, but the ubiquitous astrologer(may curses rain down upon their kind)predicted that whoever she married would die within a year. This obviously scared off all prospective grooms. To console his daughter, Aryabhatt taught her mathematics, and one of his greatest mathematical treatises was named Leelavati in her honour...Be advised, I'm not sure if the story is about Aryabhatt or one of our other mathematicians, so watch out...And yes, before you ask, we did discover the Pythagorean theorem before old Pytho himself, and remember Thales of Miletus wasn't the first scientist, it was this guy called Uddalaka Aruni, long before Thales and perhaps even Greek civilisation...

I thought that hypatia was the last curator of the library of alexandria, and died defending it. still, it shows what i know
She was also the inspiration of the character hypatia cade in anne mccaffrey's the ship who searched. And as for there not being any other famous women mathematicians, what about lord byron's daughter, ada countess of lovelace, who helped charles babbage with his difference engine, and was the first computer programmer!

Good one Joanna. You convey the idea very well that Hypatia is someone we should take more interest in. If you could give a little bit more information about her specific accomplishments in mathematics it would be easier to understand her being placed among the greats of history.

JTB

It probably wouldn't help me - I'm a historian, (dammit) not a matthematician - but I liked it from a biographical type point of view. Nicely laid out too

I don't know that she should be listed among the 'greats', JTG. But I think she's important b/c I don't believe there are any women greater... not of her era, anyway.

Standing out from the crowd as much as that is pretty great in my books. Nice work Joanna

JTG

*waits semi-patiently for something to happen*

I'm sure something will soon - this is a good entry, and is long overdue to be picked.

Any scouts out there that haven't filled their quota (as I have done)?

- Adam

Thanks

Dang it! I just filled my monthly quota yesterday. I will do what I can to get some other scouts to look at this entry. You've been waiting very patiently, and it is definitely a good one.

Gavroche

Hi Joanna,

As a notable figure in the history of mathematics, it is certainly right and proper for there to be a Guide entry on Hypatia. A well-written article such as yours makes an even stronger case. Add Gavroche's lobbying, and you've got an irrestistible force

So, I'm pleased to be able to tell you that the editors have accepted this item for inclusion in the Edited Guide, after (of course) the usual period for Sub-Editing and so forth. Congratulations on adding to your already impressive list of successful contributions!

GVI

Editorial Note: This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review forum because this entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

Congratulations!