The film entitled “Agora” directed by Alejandro Amenabar in the year 2009 basically talks about the deterioration of the pagan polytheism in the Greco-Roman era and the rise of Christian religion. Depicting also the aspect of science, “Agora” used the viewpoint of philosophy in order to explain the theory on the models of cosmos and the universe through the characters of Hypatia of Alexandria, Orestes, and Davus. Furthermore, the film also represented the role of elite in the society and their gap between the slaves and poor. As the title represents, Agora is the central place of gathering for the Greeks.
The movie portrayed the rise of Christian religion and the deterioration of the pagan polytheism during the Greco-Roman period. The film started with a scene where Greek pagan-leaders pray to the cosmos- to the Gods like Serapis, Isis, Horus, etc. specifically in the city of Alexandria where people dwell. However, the domination of the pagan religion on this time was ruled out by the Christians, destroying the Library of Alexandria until they devastated the statues of the pagan Gods. Hypatia, together with other pagan people had to flee from the library bringing their precious treasures such as the scrolls before the Christians dominated and destroyed their properties. On the scene, the conflict started when the mob of Christians insulted the pagan people, mocking and stoning the statues of their believed Gods. During this era, the rise of Christian religion flourished as their number increased due to the support that they obtained from the Romans. Gaining the confidence and trust of the Emperor, Christians learned to kill all the people that will stand in their way. As they obtain the power, they proposed that people must be converted to Christianity and those who would be tough to defend their faith will be considered as an enemy. The conflict became so serious that the pagans were being tormented by the Christians in terms of dominating their places, destroying their properties, and even to the point of stoning them to death. This was even the reason why Orestes, the leader in Alexandria had to renounce his faith and converted to Christianity to protect the love of his life (Hypatia), his status, his life/security, and even his constituents. On the earlier part, there was a scene where even Davus, was converted to Christianity and he fought for his Christian brothers. This is how the tragic fall of pagan religion happened in Alexandria and as a result, the rise of Christianity represented in the movie.
Agora also depicted the aspect of science by using philosophy as the medium to explain the phenomena in the universe. On the earlier part of the scenes, Davus said, “The Earth is the center of cosmos and revolving around it- the sun, and the five wanderers: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn….” during the class with Hypatia where he was invited by the lady to talk.He even made a model of the universe where Earth is the center. Majority of the scenes focused on their contemplation whether this theory was true or not. Hypatia was somehow convinced that indeed, it is. Because of the influence of the early Greek philosophers such as Ptolemy, the people of this time greatly believed that the Earth is the center of the universe. However, there was still a vacuum in the minds of these thinkers that is present and seemingly that vacuum needs to be filled. And that is the question, “What if the Earth could not be the center of the universe instead, it could be the other way around?” With the help of her lover, Orestes, they tried to make a models, experiments, and contemplations in order to know the real science behind it. In fact on the film, while she was navigating with Orestes in the ocean, she tried to let the sack be thrown down from a higher part of the ship and observed where it would fall down. On her surprise, it fell not directly on the place of her calculations when the ship moved and she said, “The sack behaved as if the ship is stationary” which would prove according to her that, “The Earth could be moving around the sun.” And on her last experiment, she made two poles with a rope connecting those and tried to manipulate it with a stick forming an ellipse shape with the poles inside of it. She later then concluded that the earth revolves around the sun with an ellipse orbit instead of a circular one. “Right now, the earth could be moving but no one realizes it except you (Orestes) and me,” she said. On the other hand, the pursuit to find answers on the realities on the time of Hypatia through the use of philosophy and science is a great breakthrough for them which they find fulfillment on it. But in contrast, this is the main reason why her stay on the earth was just for a little span of time as she faced death because if her philosophy.
And lastly, the movie also represented the role of elite in the society and their gap between the slaves and poor. According on the scenes of the movie, the elitist has the powerful influence over the society. It has depicted that the intellectuals such as Hypatia, and even Orestes play a vital role in their society. Hypatia of Alexandria, being an expert in philosophy, astronomy, and even mathematics is one of the noble people honored in her time as reason and science was being given emphasis by the people. Another is the pagan leaders Orestes, who used to rule the city as a prefect, achieved the political power of the region. In contrast, the slave has the humble role in their society. As shown in the movie, Davus, one of the slaves of Hypatia, used to follow all the things that his master would tell him without any complain. Slaves’ life belongs to their masters.
The film, “Agora” could be considered as an informative movie. This could be recommended to the students as it helps the viewers understand the setting of the Greco-Roman world and how the fall of paganism happened and the rise of Christianity on this era. It also benefited the viewers by depicting the role of philosophy and science to explain the ancient belief about the universe. And lastly, it facilitated the viewers to understand the gap between rich and poor on this period.
By: Jeffrey E. Loma
