Hypatia - 100 words

She was celebrated as a marvel: beautiful, intelligent, well-spoken. Returning from study under Plato in Athens, hundreds flocked to many lectures at Alexandria’s magnificent library. But jealousy flourished. Religious men disapproved. Mathematics, science, were not for women. Politicians argued, friends pleaded, poor results.

One day, pulled off father’s chariot, Hypatia screamed.
“Know your venue wicked heathen!”, they cried.
On the church altar, “righteous” fanatics ripped out hair, skinned alive, taught her “proper” place. “Not infinity or irrationals, just lady-like feminine grace.”  Seeing blood and gore, an observer remarked, “dark ages have begun when Geometry teachers sing with angels.”