In the late fourth century C.E. the Roman Empire began to crumble.
Alexandria, in the province of Egypt, still retained some of its splendor.
She possessed one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world:
the legendary lighthouse, and the biggest known library.
The library was not only a cultural but a religious symbol,
a place where the pagans worshiped their ancestral gods.
The traditional pagan worship in the city now coexisted
with the Jews, and an unstoppable religion, up until now banned:
...Christianity.
How many fools do you think have asked themselves?
why don't the stars fall from the sky
But you, who've had the teachings of the wise,
You know that the stars move neither up nor down.
they merely revolve from east to west,
following the most perfect course ever conceived,
The circle.
Because the circle reigns in the heavens,
the stars have never fallen and they never will.
But, what about here on Earth?
Here, bodies do fall.
But their movements are not circular but linear.
Watch again.
No, leave it.
So,
What mysterious wonder do you all think might be
lurking beneath the Earth that would make every single person and animal
and object and slaves settle there?
What might it be?
The heaviness, lady.
No.
Synesius.
The weightiness.
No, you're both speaking about the same thing, but you're not talking about the primary cause.
Have any of you ever wondered at the thought that your...
...that your feet...
...your feet...
...are standing on the very center of the cosmos
that holds all things together and pulls them together?
If there were no center, then the universe would be
shapeless, infinite, formless,
chaotic.
Will it make a little difference if we were here or there or anywhere?
And we'd all be better off never having been born.
Library of Alexandria, 391 C.E.
God, our Father,
Lord of the Universe,
origin of all things,
eternal force of the Cosmos,
where everything has its beginning and everything its end.
Almighty Serapis, Isis, Horus,
Anubis and all the other gods we ask for your protection,
both in Heaven and on Earth.
I don't know what's happening in the market but...
- Orestes... - If you would just let me speak. Please...
I know you feel something as well. I've seen.
Tell the master we're leaving.
Can you believe? He was courting me as if I was one of his conquests.
This Orestes is as foolish as his father.
I already suggested that he devote his heart to another muse,
one more beautiful than I.
- Who? - Music.
Music?
You do not find it amusing?
But how could... 227 ever become 16?
Look at this, it's 14.
They behave like humans! They eat, drink and fornicate!
If my gods eat, drink and fornicate, good for them.
Know this,
you who console yourself with pagan images.
Men, women, birds, reptiles!
Serapis!
Serapis! Who could trust a God with a flower pot
for a crown?
Oh, you Christians, how arrogant you've become now that the
Empire allows you to exist.
My father's father saw them
slaughtered in the circus
and fed to the lions.
Enough! Watch.
Watch.
I shall now walk across the fire.
If my God...
If my God is the true god, I shall suffer no harm.
If however, your gods exist
they will roast me like a pig.
You...
You're mad!
You'll get what you deserve.
Now, let's see if you can walk across the fire.
What are you doing?
Stop, you can't do that! Let the man go.
Be quiet pagan or we'll throw you in as well.
Whose is this?
How many times must I repeat myself?
Today,
the Christians burned a man.
Right in the middle of the Agora!
I will not have this in my house!
Not in the house of Theon!
Give it to me.
Give it to me!
Master, I beg mercy for your slave girl.
- Davus! Get up.
You have nothing to do with this.
I too, am a Christian.
What did you say?
I too, am a Christian. Punish me for the both of us.
So, now they presume to teach us mercy.
Get a whip. - Father!
Please wait until you calm before you...
Father, I beg of you. I beg of you!
...wrapped in a blazing brightness.
It was the flames, stupid.
Then why didn't he burn like the pagan? Tell me.
Leave us...
Come here.
Kneel.
Tell me, is it true that you're a Christian?
I don't know what to say, Mistress. - Why not?
If I said yes, that would be a lie.
If I said no, it'd mean I lied to my master. I don't know which one's worse.
Then you should say nothing at all.
There.
Thank you.
I want you to know that the Master is upset with himself about this.
What is that?
Something I made, Mistress.
But it looks like a...
What is it?
It's Ptolemaic System.
It is.
Did you make this?
Earth...
is the center of the Cosmos...
and revolving around it...
the Sun...
and the five wanderers: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
Obstinately disobeying the law of the circle.
Nevertheless, Ptolemy shows us that they do obey.
The fact that we see them move
in a loop
is due to the joint effect of two circles.
One that...
travels around the Earth
and another lesser circle
proper to each wanderer.
Look, epicycles! - So you see, it's not Heaven that errs.
But our eyes that deceive us.
Well said, Davus.
I'd like you to know that your exposition shows me
that you've been paying closer attention than...
One or two..others here.
I tell you, the gods should have consulted me
before they created anything.
Why do you say that, Orestes?
It all seems so whimsical!
Why the joint effect of two circles?
Wouldn't it be more perfect if the wanderers didn't wander...
and a single circle gave sense to everything?
Orestes, by what authority do you judge the work of God?
What is wrong with you Christians?
Can a man no longer open his mouth in this city?
If you criticize creation, you criticize our Lord and you offend us.
You should move out to the desert.
You won't hear anything to offend you out there.
You know nothing of what you speak. None of you.
Synesius, what is Euclid's first rule?
Why the question?
Just.. answer me.
If...
if two things are equal to a third thing...
then they are all equal to each other.
Good.
Now, are you both not similar to me?
Yes.
And you, Orestes?
Yes.
Now, I am actually saying this to everybody here in this room.
More things unite us...
than divide us.
Now, whatever may be going on in the streets, we are brothers.
We are brothers...
I want you to remember that brawls are for slaves and for riff-raff.
Now, I think we should all honor Davus with some very well earned applause.
He'll judge us all alive and dead.
And then it will be too late,
because only those who believed in Jesus
will be saved.
What are you waiting for?
The Kingdom of God is upon us.
Do you understand what I'm telling you?
Yes.
Yeah, but do you understand like men do?
Do you nod your head like sheep?
What are you looking at?
Yes, you.
What are you looking at?
Are you Ammonius?
The man who performed the miracle?
Do you want to see a miracle?
Are you the one?
I am.
Come with me.
Jesus went throughout Galilee
teaching in their synagogues.
Preaching the good news to the Hebrew
and healing every disease or sickness.
News about him spread among the Syrians
and people moved to him from all over the world.
That is Theophilus.
The bishop.
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek
for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they will be filled.
The word of God!
Blessed are the merciful
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
The Lord be with you.
So how were you able to escape the flames?
The Lord be with you. - And with you.
What do you think I did? I prayed.
You probably do not even know how.
What do you have in that sack?
Do you have any food here? - It's for my Master.
What's wrong with you?
I have to pay for that with my own money!
What do you need money for?
Look at their faces.
Here.
I want you to try it yourself.
And afterwards, I will teach you how to pray.
Go on.
The Lord be with you. - Bless you.
See?
That is a miracle!
Go on, keep doing it.
The Lord be with you.
Please.
Thank you.
Bless you,
God bless you.
Bless you.
Hey, slave!
What is your name?
Davus.
Davus the slavus!
Now, you look like a true Parabalani.
A true soldier of Christ.
What are they saying this time?
Telling them to dance.
The men are now heavy with wine.
All aboard!
Oh, what an unfortunate wretch.
Save your servants!
End of act 2!
Thank you, dear audience, thank you.
Now, excuse the delay while we move things around
and change our costumes.
Forgive me...
Forgive, forgive my boldness.
I am Orestes,
son of Orestes.
I'm here to...
I'm here to declare my love for Hypatia, the philosopher.
Whom you all, no doubt, know.
For some time now, following her counsel.
I have devoted myself to music.
In the hopes of seeking solace in the harmony of its sounds.
But for me,
such harmony...
resides only in my lady.
So,
My purpose here is merely to...
offer my melody...
in the hopes of...
Stop talking.
That man will go far, I tell you.
If my preferred fruit were the banana and not the fig, I would have already fallen
at his feet.
Wouldn't it be best to please him?
Me?
How?
Granting him your daughter's hand. Or don't you ever plan to marry her off?
Hypatia, subject to a man? Without freedom to teach?
Or even to speak her mind.
The most brilliant philosopher I know, having to give up her science.
No, that would be a death to her.
That's true. Her work is admirable.
And she's prudent and virtuous.
But Theon,
Those are yet her fathomed wishes.
Being a woman, I mean.
Our Father who art in Heaven...
Don't let anyone else have her.
Please, don't anyone else have her.
Don't let anyone else have her.
Amen.
Good day, lady.
Good day lady.
Yesterday, many of you will have seen one of your colleagues
present me with an aulos
I accepted the gift.
And today I wish to make him a gift of my own in return.
This is for you.
It is the blood of my cycle.
Orestes, you...
You say that you have found harmony in me.
Well, I am suggesting that you look elsewhere
because I think that there is little harmony or...
beauty in that.
Don't you agree?
Yesterday we were discussing the Apollonian cone.
We discussed the circle, the ellipse, the parabola.
Today we will discuss the hyperbola. - Lady!
Forgive me, Lady.
Olympius requires your presence
urgently in the Serapeum.
You as well.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.
How are we to enjoy them force feeding us the faith
accustomed to people who until recently were common outlaws?
- What's happening? - It's despicable. A sacrilege.
Christians have gathered in the Agora.
They are mocking the gods.
We must put an end to these insults!
They may not fear him,
but they will fear our swords.
Wait!
Now, what is it you are going to do?
Are you going to attack them?
Are you going to stain your hands with blood for an insult?
To the gods! An insult to the gods!
Well, if you think it is so outrageous, then go
and denounce their acts before the prefect.
One might think that you're protecting them.
I am trying to protect our disciples.
You are inciting them to be vile murderers.
Theon, as director, you have the last word.
The insult must be answered.
Those Jews amongst you do as you please. This is not your battle.
As for you Christians, you would do well to join those of your own faith.
You will not cast my disciples out of this house!
- Glory be to Serapis! - And all the gods!
Wait for my command!
No one must suspect us until we have them surrounded.
The clubs are for the slaves. Slaves!
The slaves are also summoned!
Davus, go back.
No. Go back.
Death to Christians!
Glory be to Serapis!
Let's listen to her now!
Do you hear any complaint?
No!
This one has lost her voice too!
Their mouths do not speak,
their eyes do not see,
their noses do not smell.
Yet still, pagans come here and kneel before them.
What madness is this?
For the gods!
Medorus!
Take care of your master! Protect him!
God is one!
Death to the pagans!
You! What are you looking at? Get there and fight!
Fight!
Are you deaf? I said fight!
I'm a Christian!
I am a Christian!
- God is Christ! - Christ is one!
Death to the pagans!
God is one!
No! No!
The entrance! We must defend the entrance!
What's happening?
Our men are being sent back by the Christians!
Father!
It's alright. It's alright.
What happened?
It was his slave.
Davus, get me some cloth, some water, quickly.
Father...
Synesius, we must get out of here.
Hold him still.
The Parabalani are coming!
God is with us!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
- Close the gates! - You know our men are still out there!
May the gods protect them.
Close the gates, I say!
Don't kill him! We'll keep him as a hostage like the others. Did you hear that, everyone?
Any Christian you catch is now a hostage.
Take our wounded to the temple and the Christians down into the cellars.
And anyone with a good eye and a good aim up on the walls.
Olympius.
This one is a Christian.
Yes, and those three as well.
If they are Christians, they will go down to the cellars.
Olympius, if you are going to imprison my brothers
then you are going to have to imprison me with them.
If it is necessary, I will do that.
If anyone...
Anyone!
...dare lay a finger on one of my brothers...
...I swear, I'll run him through.
Look!
Look at this!
Orestes.
Thank you.
Since when were there so many Christians?
We shall have to negotiate.
What are we waiting for? What can we expect from a Christian emperor?
Except be put to the sword.
I'll settle for still being alive when his verdict arrives.
Here will do.
No one should leave the group, please.
Are they going to pray all night?
Davus.
Stay here.
It's safer here.
Just here would be best.
Synesius! What are you doing?
Lady, sister and mother,
May God bless you and protect you.
Move back!
Slaves, take it to the back.
Slaves, get to the back!
The three won't come out.
It's a disaster.
Father, why don't you leave the dice?
Have you been seen today?
-No. - No?
I'll just have a look.
Promise me, my child, that...
when I'm gone, you won't remember this foolish old man.
I promise.
Remember me as I was before.
Before when I could still think and...
I...
I worked with you and...
I listened to you.
How could I have been so wrong?
Seeing you here locked up because of me and...
Father, please.
I wanted you to be free.
I am free.
Hey, Christians.
Christians!
What's that carpenter God of yours doing now?
Building coffins for you, scum!
So, tell me.
Where are the gods now?
Where are they?
Might as well look for others. - Others?
Which one? The God of the Christians perhaps?
Such boldness!
What do you think, Lady? Am I so bold?
Put the fire out.
You are indeed bold.
Very bold.
I've been thinking about something you said to me.
Me?
That day that you criticized the heavenly mechanism
and you called it
whimsical. - Yes, although...
Actually...
I was criticizing Ptolemy.
For complicating everything with his epicycles.
But I don't know, perhaps I'm just simple-minded.
No.
No, the heavens
should be simple.
So, am I right or..?
What if...
What if there were a simpler explanation for the wanderers?
There is.
But it is so absurd, so old.
That no one gives it any credit.
What theory is that?
Do you speak of Aristarchus?
Aristarchus maintained
that the Earth moves.
The strange behavior of the wanderers
was nothing more than an optical illusion
caused by our movement
in combination with those around the Sun.
- Heliocentric model. That's right.
The Sun would be in the center
as befits its dignity as King of the Stars.
Which would make Earth just..another wanderer. - His work was lost
in the fire that destroyed the mother library.
This is why we have to take great care of this place.
Our library
is all that remains of the wisdom of man.
But everytime you drop an object, it...
Who speaks?
Forgive me, Mistress.
I was listening.
Speak up, Davus.
If the Earth is moving,
every time you drop an object, it would...
fall further behind.
And the wind would always blow against us.
And the birds would lose their way in flight.
I told you
Aristarchus' hypothesis makes no sense at all.
I feel that what you just said can be refuted.
But right now I don't know how.
Make way for the prefect!
Make way!
Make way for the prefect!
Make way!
Listen one and all!
Prepare to hear and obey the verdict of our Emperor.
I, Flavius Theodosius Augustus
Emperor and Supreme Head of the provinces of the Orient,
having been informed of the events...
which recently took place in the City of Alexandria...
do hereby declare and command
that the insurgents shall be pardoned and freed...
In exchange for my generosity,
the insurgents will abandon the Serapeum and the Library immediately
allowing the Christians to enter
and dispose of the premises
as they see fit.
What are we to expect? They'll destroy everything!
The pagans will leave by the stables.
The books...
From there, you will be escorted to your homes.
Obey, this instant!
Keep it together!
Send half the regiment to the other side.
and send the rest later.
Yes, sir.
Prefect.
We won't be able to contain this lot for long.
For Christ! For Christ!
Stay together!
He Istoria
He Filosofia
To Drama
Leave the lesser works.
- Which are the lesser works? - Just take the important ones.
The important ones!
The soldiers are withdrawing!
Slave!
- Have you seen my mistress? - Just get over here and help!
- They cannot carry so many. - We need more help.
Please, go and get my father out of here. Get him out of here now.
Slave!
Go! Go! Go! Go!
Come on, quickly!
Hypatia, her students are still at the atrium.
Are they out of their minds?
If that's what they want, let them burn.
Come on!
Quickly!
Lady.
Where have you been? Pick up that sack.
Lady, we have to go. - Pick up the sack!
Why are slaves never around when you need it?
I was... - Move, move, move your feet, move!
Idiot!
Run!
There is no time!
Lady!
Leave them.
God is one!
Hurry!
Davus!
Where are you going?
- We have to go! - Davus, where are you going?
If he wants to die for our gods, let him.
Please, no. Please don't do this.
- Come on! - Davus!
- Davus, no! - Come on!
God is one!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Slave!
Davus!
Davus the slavus!
Help me with this!
Help me!
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Pagan sinners!