Death of Hypatia (c370-415). 1866 illustration showing the murder of the Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician Hypatia. Hypatia lived in Alexandria, Ancient Egypt, and was the head of the Neoplatonic school there, where she taught philosophy and astronomy. She became extremely popular with the people of Alexandria and exerted profound political influence. However, after her close ally Pope Theophilus of Alexandria died unexpectedly in 412, Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, and his allies attempted to discredit her and undermine her reputation. During the festival of Lent in March 415, Hypatia's carriage was raided by a Christian brotherhood known as the parabalani. She was dragged into a nearby church and murdered. They tore her body into pieces and dragged her mangled limbs through the town to a place called Cinarion, where they set them on fire.