Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Who was Saint Catherine of Alexandria? According to the Christian tradition she is a saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4^th century at the hands of the emperor Maxentius. Conforming to her hagiography she was both a princess and a noted scholar who became a Christian when she was 14 years. She converted hundreds of people to Christianity and was martyred around the age of 18. However, some scholars consider that the legend of Catherine of Alexandria is probably based on the life and murder of Greek philosopher Hypatia, with reversed roles of Christians and pagans.