When the Roman Empire is collapsing around 400 A. D., some well-to-do citizens seem to watch from the great distance of Alexandria, Egypt, thinking they are relatively safe from the collapse of their society. A famous teacher and philosopher named Hypatia (Rachel Weisz), who may be one of the most advanced thinkers and women of the ancient world, finds herself caught between a student named Orestes (Oscar Isaac) and one of her slaves named Davus (Max Minghella) in a triangle of love and redemption. Davus has joined the budding Christian faith as a means to escape the Roman subjugation, and Orestes sees the new religion as a political steppingstone. All takes place against the backdrop of the destruction of the Great Library.