_Alexandria_, famous for Learning and Merchandize, but particularly for
a School or Academy, of which _Theon_, the Father of _Hypatia_,
was Master.
After _Alexander the Great_ had founded _Alexandria_ in _Egypt_, as the
Center of Commerce in the Empire he was projecting, this City soon
became a flourishing Mart for Learning as well as for Merchandize. The
Fame of the _Alexandrian School_, and of the _Alexandrian Library_,
reached much further than the Name of _Alexander_ himself; or at least
they carried it, whither it could never have reached without their
Means. This was the most proper Tribute, that could in Gratitude be paid
to the Memory of a Prince so ambitious of Glory: As indeed no private
Persons, no more than Potentates, will ever do any thing praise-worthy
without the Prospect of a long-lived Reputation, the most effectual Spur
to laudable and arduous Undertakings. The Succession of the great Men
that presided in this School, may be learnt out of the Works of those,
who have purposely written on such Subjects. My Design however obliges
me here to mention one of them, namely _Theon_, who governed that
Academy with much Applause in the latter part of the fourth Century. He
was particularly famous for his extensive Knowledge in Astronomy, as the
Catalogues, made of such who excelled in this Science, abundantly shew.
But what has contributed to render him more illustrious to all
Posterity, is, that he was Father to the incomparable _Hypatia_; whom,
according to the Custom of those Times, or rather prompted by the
Encouragement he received from her own promising Genius, he educated not
only in all the Qualifications belonging to her Sex; but caused her
likewise to be instructed in the most abstruse Sciences, which are
reputed the proper Occupation of Men, as requiring too much Labour and
Application for the delicate Constitution of Women.