Due to the limited historical records about Mary the Jewess, it's difficult to pinpoint her exact dates of birth and death. Scholars generally place her activity between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, based on the period when Zosimos of Panopolis, her main source of information, was writing. This era witnessed the rise of early Christianity, the continued influence of Hellenistic philosophy, and the flourishing of alchemy in Alexandria.

While her origins are debated, Mary the Jewess is strongly associated with Alexandria, Egypt, a major center of intellectual activity during the Roman period. Alexandria was renowned for its Library, its diverse population, and its confluence of Greek, Egyptian, and Jewish traditions, creating a fertile ground for the development of alchemy and other esoteric sciences. This city likely provided the environment for Mary to conduct her experiments and develop her alchemical techniques.

Mary lived during the Roman Empire, a period marked by relative political stability and economic prosperity, which facilitated the exchange of ideas and goods across the Mediterranean world. This empire provided the infrastructure for the spread of alchemical knowledge, but also the cultural and philosophical environment in which early alchemists operated.