# Orestes — Hypatia character guide

> Orestes in Hypatia by Charles Kingsley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Poor Orestes

**First appearance:** 0007-v-a-day-in-alexandria

## Snapshot

Alexandria's Roman Prefect, a man of shifting masks who courts Hypatia's alliance while scheming to break the priest-ridden court at Byzantium.

## Who they are

Orestes comes to Hypatia with news of Heraclian's supposed victory and a confession of four months of quiet preparation, offering himself as a desperate instrument for her pagan cause. He has bought officers, soldiers, and stationaries with promises, and even unloaded wheat-ships for largesse while bribing deacons to outmaneuver the monks of Tabenne who feed the poor for free. His cynical pragmatism and his need for Hypatia's prestige bind him to a cause he may not believe in, making him both her most useful ally and her most unreliable one.

## Relationships

### [Philammon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/philammon)

_professional_

Orestes, as the Roman prefect, interacts with Philammon in political and religious contexts, using him as a pawn in civic conflicts.

### [Hypatia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/hypatia)

_professional_

Hypatia and Orestes have a political alliance, with Orestes seeking her counsel and support in governing Alexandria.

### [Raphael Aben-Ezra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/raphael_aben_ezra)

_friendship_

Orestes and Raphael share a friendship based on mutual intellectual respect and political cooperation against Cyril's influence.

### [Philammon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/philammon)

_professional_

Orestes, as the Roman prefect, interacts with Philammon in political and religious contexts, using him as a pawn in civic conflicts.

### [Hypatia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/hypatia)

_professional_

Hypatia and Orestes have a political alliance, with Orestes seeking her counsel and support in governing Alexandria.

### [Hypatia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/hypatia)

_professional_

Hypatia and Orestes have a political alliance, with Orestes seeking her counsel and support in governing Alexandria.

### [Raphael Aben-Ezra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/raphael_aben_ezra)

_friendship_

Orestes and Raphael share a friendship based on mutual intellectual respect and political cooperation against Cyril's influence.

### [Raphael Aben-Ezra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/raphael_aben_ezra)

_friendship_

Orestes and Raphael share a friendship based on mutual intellectual respect and political cooperation against Cyril's influence.

## In the story

### [Hypatia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/hypatia)

The Prefect of Alexandria, involved in the political dynamics and tensions with the church.

### [II: The Dying World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/ii-the-dying-world)

The prefect of Alexandria, seeks Hypatia's counsel, shows weakness and fear upon hearing of Heraclian's rebellion.

### [IV: Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/iv-miriam)

Sends a proposal to Hypatia, but hesitates to fulfill her condition of apostasy, fearing hellfire.

### [XVI: Venus and Pallas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xvi-venus-and-pallas)

Intervenes to protect Philammon from the monks, but is unable to fully help him; later attempts to drive away but is blocked by the mob.

### [XVIII: The Prefect Tested](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xviii-the-prefect-tested)

The Prefect, attacked by a mob of monks and rescued by the Goths. He becomes their guest and plans a slow revenge on his attacker.

### [XIX: Jews Against Christians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xix-jews-against-christians)

Is in high spirits after receiving news, preparing for a public spectacle, and refers to Hypatia as his 'bride elect.'

### [XX: She Stoops to Conquer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xx-she-stoops-to-conquer)

The Prefect, determined to win Hypatia, uses flattery and strategic concessions to soothe her anger and bind her closer to his political ambitions.

### [Pandemonium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xxii-pandemonium)

Presides over the spectacle as Prefect, attempting to maintain order and deliver a speech after the disruption caused by Philammon.

### [XXIII: Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/chapters/xxiii-nemesis)

In a state of panic and rage, he dictates a false report to the Byzantine court and orders the capture of Miriam.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters/orestes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hypatia_se/characters