Hypatia came from an aristocratic background and circulated among the ruling and cultural elite. Her students were well-born and influential, but the school was open to Christians, pagans and followers of other religions.
Hypatia made no distinction between pagan and Christian students. After graduating from the school, they held high positions in Alexandrian society. One of Hypatia's most famous pupils was Synesius of Cyrene, who became Bishop of Ptolemais in Libya in 410. In this way she undoubtedly left her mark - more or less directly - on Alexandrian life.
