To mark International Women’s Rights Day, a conference on the philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria was held in March, attracting a large and enthusiastic audience. The speaker, Fernand Figares, a practising philosopher and founder of the New Acropolis Belgium philosophical movement, captivated the audience by recounting the heroic life of this exceptional woman.

Hypatia of Alexandria, inventor of the hydroscope, divulger of the astrolabe and Diophantine equations, but also a mystic, left a considerable legacy. Fernand Figares highlighted the many facets of this extraordinary woman, who left her mark on history through her intelligence, courage and determination.

The lecture attracted a great deal of interest and gave rise to a rich and constructive dialogue between the speaker and the audience. The audience was particularly moved by the story of Hypatia, a woman who stood up to the barbarity of her time, and whose legacy continues to inspire today’s generations.

Fernand Figares, a geologist by training and a specialist in ancient and Renaissance philosophies, was able to pass on his passion for Hypatia and her times. His expertise and eloquence gave the audience a better understanding of the importance of this woman in the history of philosophy and science.

The conference was a great success, both in terms of the quality of the speaker and the interest aroused by the subject. It was also an opportunity to pay tribute to an exceptional woman and a philosopher who is still too little known.