Melanipa la Sabia (Hipo-Hipe): inflexión histórico-filosófica más allá de la tragedia y el mito

Abstract

The documentation of women's influence on the history of philosophy remains a largely neglected topic. This presence transcends physicality and can sometimes refer to women who, as fictional or mythological figures, have made fundamental contributions to philosophical reasoning. This is the case of Melanippe (Hippo, Hipe), who appears in two works by Euripides: Melanippe the Wise and Melanippe Bound. We have few fragments of the original works by their literary creator, as these plays have been lost. However, through historical-literary archaeology, it is possible to discover, using a hermeneutic methodology, a proto-philosophy that resonates with pre-Socratic naturalist thought, especially that of Anaxagoras. In other words, Melanippe is capable of theorizing the order of being beyond myth. This task requires the inclusion of other writers, philosophers, and even astronomers, who help piece together the puzzle and provide clarity regarding Melanippe's philosophical mindset. Among them are Hyginus, Eratosthenes, Callimachus, Cyril of Alexandria, and Julian the Apostate, among others. The reflections on Melanippe the Wise contained in this article aim to enrich the historical and philosophical knowledge of women philosophers, since philosophy is not a treasure reserved for men; on the contrary, it belongs to anyone who wishes to confront the mystery of being with rational courage, something scarce in our time.