Hipatia

 Hipatia

--Va con cualquiera-- decían, queriendo ensuciar su libertad.

--No parece mujer-- decían, queriendo elogiar su inteligencia.

Pero numerosos profesores, magistrados, filosófos y políticos acudían desde lejos a la Escuela de Alejandría, para escuchar su palabra.

Hipatia estudiaba los enigmas que habían desafiado a Euclides y a Arquímedes, y hablaba contra la fe ciega, indigna del amor divino y del amor humano. Ella enseñaba a dudar y a preguntar. Y aconsejaba:

--Defiende tu derecho a pensar. Pensar equivocándote es mejor que no pensar.

¿Qué hacía esa mujer hereje dictando cátedra en una ciudad de machos cristianos?

La llamaban bruja y hechicera, la amenazaban de muerte.

Y un mediodía de marzo del año 415, el gentío se le echó encima. Y fue arrancada de su carruaje y desnudada y arrastrada por las calles y golpeada y acuchillada. Y en la plaza pública la hoguera se llevó lo que quedaba de ella.

--Se investigará-- dijo el prefecto de Alejandría.

Eduardo Galeano

Espejos, Siglo XXI Editores (2010)

 Hypatia

- She goes with anyone - they said, trying to tarnish her freedom.

- She doesn't look like a woman - they said, wanting to praise her intelligence.

But many teachers, judges, philosophers and politicians came from afar to the School of Alexandria, to hear her word.

Hypatia studied the mysteries that had challenged Euclid and Archimedes, and spoke against blind faith, unworthy of divine love and of human love. She taught to question and doubt. And she advised:

- Defend your right to think. To make mistakes while thinking is better than not thinking.

What was that heretic woman doing while teaching in a city of Christian males?

They called her a witch and a sorcerer, and threatened her to death.

And one afternoon of March of the year 415, the crowd jumped on her. And she was torn from her chariot and stripped naked and dragged through the streets and beaten and stabbed. And in the public square the fire took what was left of her.

- It will be investigated - said the prefect of Alexandria.

Eduardo Galeano
Mirrors, Siglo XXI Editores (2010)

These images are detail photographs of art pieces by Jonidel Mendoza and Starsky Brines at the GBGArts Gallery in Caracas, Venezuela.