The latest Level Up Pack from Fortnite introduces a new skin, Captain Hypatia, who is a starship captain. This skin comes with an alternate “Armored” style that transforms the standard lady into a cyborg with arms and legs held by red energy. The arms-and-legs feature is intriguing, considering the skin’s name. Hypatia of Alexandria was a Greek philosopher and astronomer who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, during the late 4th and early 5th centuries. She was the first female mathematician with significant historical records, and her name has been associated with various things named after her. The new Captain Hypatia skin is part of the Luminary Explorer set, which suits a space ship captain, and the concept of a luminary aligns with Hypatia’s reputation as a famous smart person.
The Tragic Story of Hypatia
Hypatia’s life came to a brutal end when a mob of Christians murdered her in the most gruesome way. After the death of Theophilus, the bishop of Alexandria, a power struggle ensued between his nephew Cyril and a man named Timothy. Cyril emerged victorious and went after anyone who supported Timothy or opposed him, including Hypatia and her peers. Cyril spent years slandering Hypatia, and eventually, a riot led by a man named Peter focused on Hypatia. The mob stripped her clothes, cut her into pieces using ceramic shards, and burned her arms and legs outside of town. The tragic story of Hypatia has been recounted in many books and broader histories that contextualize her life and death as part of the conflict between Christianity and the ancient scientific establishment.
The Metaphors in the Skin
The Captain Hypatia skin gets deep into metaphors that align with the historical reference to Hypatia. The alternate style, with the arms and legs held by red energy, symbolizes the detachment of Hypatia’s limbs from her body after the mob’s attack. The Luminary Explorer set aligns with Hypatia’s reputation as a famous smart person, and her name’s association with heavenly bodies and a crater on the moon. The flavor text “No ship. No crew. Just an unstoppable spirit” implies that Hypatia’s spirit has transcended her physical body and floats around space in a new cyberpunk form without a ship. The skin bundle introduces an interesting topic of conversation and a unique historical reference that adds depth to the game.
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