Who was Orestes, the Roman prefect of Alexandria?

Orestes served as the Roman Augustal prefect of the diocese of Egypt around 415 AD. During his term, he engaged in a bitter political feud with Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria. This intense rivalry ultimately precipitated the murder of the prominent Neoplatonist philosopher Hypatia, who had been serving as Orestes's advisor.

What we know

• Orestes served as a Roman state official holding the position of Augustal prefect of the diocese of Egypt in 415 AD. [2]
• During his term in office, Orestes was engaged in a violent feud with Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria. [2]
• Hypatia, a philosopher and mathematician, established great influence with Orestes and advised him during his political feud with Cyril. [5]
• The political struggle between Orestes and Cyril precipitated the death of Hypatia, who was murdered by a mob of Christians in March 415 AD. [2, 5]

Where to go next

• whoWho was Cyril of Alexandria?
• a case in pointHow did Hypatia influence ancient philosophy?
• the bigger pictureWhat caused the decline of the Library of Alexandria?
• what caused itHow did the feud between Orestes and Cyril lead to murder?
• how we knowWhat was the role of an Augustal prefect in Roman Egypt?
• an unexpected connectionWhy is Hypatia sometimes linked to Saint Catherine of Alexandria?During the Middle Ages, the life and virtues of the pagan philosopher Hypatia were co-opted and partly formed the basis for the Christian legend of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Sources

• [1]Orestes (Wikidata Q2556077) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Orestes (prefect of Egypt) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Cyril of Alexandria · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Library of Alexandria · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Hypatia · CC BY-SA 4.0