Alejandro Amenabar’s historic movie ‘Agora’

The historical drama film ‘Agora’ starring Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella in the lead roles is directed by Alejandro Amenabar.

The story revolves around astrologer-philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus (Minghella). The film is set in Alexandria in Egypt takes place in period of turmoil where Christianism has been progressively overriding the former belief system.

Rachel Weisz is playing the role of astrologer-philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria, who fights to save the collected wisdom of the ancient world. The film ‘Agora’ is also stars Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale, and Homayoun Ershadi. The movie will be released on December 18, 2009.

The real Hypatia of Alexandria was a Greek scholar from Alexandria in Egypt, considered the first notable woman in mathematics, who also taught philosophy and astronomy. She lived in Roman Egypt, and was killed by a Coptic Christian mob who blamed her for religious turmoil. She has been hailed as a "valiant defender of science against religion", and some suggest that her murder marked the end of the Hellenistic Age.