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/lp/brill/the-novatian-indifferent-canon-and-pascha-in-alexandria-in-414-hypatia-Bg06mOHUQS
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- Publisher
- Brill
- Copyright
- © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
- ISSN
- 0042-6032
- eISSN
- 1570-0720
- DOI
- 10.1163/15700720-12341264
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
In an earlier paper I suggested that the murder of the Alexandrian philosopher Hypatia by a clique of Bishop Cyril’s zealots resulted from her involvement in the conflict between the Roman and Alexandrian Churches regarding the date of Easter in the year 417. The murder would have been committed in March 416 after she had performed controversial astronomical observations that supported the Roman date over the Alexandrian one. This version faces severe problems from various sides. Therefore, I suggest here another scenario, where an unorthodox position of the Novatian Church on determining the time of Easter and early Passover celebration in 414 triggered the chain of events leading to Hypatia’s murder. This scenario places the murder in March 415 and offers a unique time frame for all the related events. Here Hypatia displays astronomy skills that justify her subsequent historical reputation. I also shed light on the immediate circumstances of her murder, specifically suggesting it happened on the day she was making the equinoctial observations. Finally, I propose instituting a memorial day for Hypatia on the day of the vernal equinox.
Journal
Vigiliae Christianae – Brill
Published: Sep 30, 2016
Keywords: Hypatia of Alexandria; Bishop Cyril; Novatian Church; presbyter Sabbatius; Easter; Passover; vernal equinox; equatorial ring; expulsion of Jews from Alexandria; Alexandrian calendar; Jewish calendar