Thus Hypatia’s students always feel the presence of her “divine spirit”51. Not just Hypatia’s soul is holy; all of her being is sanctified; even her hands, which receive Synesius’ letters, are “sacred” (Ep. 133). As Plato’s successor she is blessed with charisma that enables her to teach others, and she fulfills her vocation with devotion, as if god himself had called her to this purpose. Zealously disclosing to her students the “sacred” sense of philosophic inquiry, she is regarded as a “genuine guide in the mysteries of philosophy” (gnesia kathegemon ton philosophias orgion) (Ep. 137). The appellation of guide along the avenues of “genuine" sacred philosophy was accorded in Hypatia’s time only to those Neoplatonists who distinguished themselves though a sort of personal holiness, though fame on account of their wisdom and spiritual authority.52 At the side of so elevated a teacher students consider themselves Fortune’s darlings. They surround her joyfully, like choristers to a leader. Writing in 402 to his brother Euoptius, who was probably still studying with Hypatia, Synesius asks him to extend salutations to “the fortunate chorus that delights in her oracular utterance,” or more precisely, “her divinely sweet voice” (Ep. 5).
— Hypatia of Alexandria (Revealing Antiquity , No 8) by Maria Dzielska (Page 48)
This description of Hypatia is really cool.
