Historical accuracy of Agora

Characters

Largely historic

Story

Partly historic

Setting

Largely historic

Historical accuracy of: Agora

Characters

Largely historic

Story

Partly historic

Setting

Largely historic

Characters

Historic

Hypatia

Female philosopher and astronomer

Hypatia was a real historical figure, a renowned philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in Alexandria. The film accurately depicts her profession and the general time period.

Partly historic

Orestes

Prefect of Alexandria

Orestes was a real historical figure, the Prefect of Alexandria. The film depicts his political role, but the nuances of his relationship with Hypatia are dramatized.

Partly historic

Cyril of Alexandria

Patriarch of Alexandria

Cyril was a real historical figure, the Patriarch of Alexandria, and his conflict with Orestes is historically documented. However, the film simplifies and dramatizes his role in the violence and Hypatia's death.

Not historic

Davus

Hypatia's slave, later a Parabalani monk

Davus is a fictional character representing the social tensions of the time. While slavery and religious conflict were real, Davus's specific story is a dramatic device.

Partly historic

Ammonius

Monk and follower of Cyril

While it is known that Cyril had followers who were monks and that there were monks that engaged in violence, it is hard to say if this specific character is based on a specific historical figure. The violence itself is historically accurate.

Story

Disputed

Cyril's role in Hypatia's death

The film portrays Cyril as inciting violence against Hypatia. While he opposed paganism, his direct involvement in her death is debated by historians.

True

Religious tensions

The film depicts the rising religious tensions and conflicts between pagans, Christians, and Jews in 4th-century Alexandria, a significant historical context.

Probably true

Hypatia's pagan faith

While no definitive records confirm her beliefs, Hypatia likely adhered to Neoplatonic philosophy, often associated with pagan traditions.

Partly true

Library of Alexandria

While a grand library existed in Alexandria, its destruction was a gradual process over centuries, not a single event as depicted in the film.

Disputed

Hypatia's scientific work

The extent of Hypatia's astronomical discoveries is debated among historians. The film may exaggerate her contributions for dramatic effect.

False

Heliocentric model

The film portrays Hypatia as close to discovering the Earth revolves around the Sun. This is anachronistic, as the heliocentric model was not widely accepted until much later.

Probably false

Parabolic mirrors

The film's depiction of Hypatia experimenting with parabolic mirrors has no historical evidence to support it.

Nobody knows

Orestes' love for Hypatia

The romantic relationship between Hypatia and Orestes, the Roman prefect, is a fictional element with no basis in historical records.

Partly true

Hypatia's death

While historical accounts vary in details, Hypatia was indeed brutally murdered by a Christian mob. The film captures the violence of this event.

Setting

True

Setting in Alexandria

The film accurately places Hypatia in Alexandria, Egypt, a major center of learning and culture in the Roman Empire.

Good depiction

Focus on social unrest

The film effectively captures the turbulent social and religious atmosphere of Alexandria during the late 4th and early 5th centuries.

Good depiction

Visual depiction of Alexandria

The film's sets and costumes create a visually convincing representation of Roman-era Alexandria.

Average depiction

Exploration of philosophical ideas

While the film touches on philosophical debates, it simplifies complex ideas for a broader audience, potentially sacrificing some accuracy.