Alexandrian Library
The Library of Alexandria, founded during the Hellenistic period, is one of the most renowned libraries of the ancient world, although many aspects of its history remain uncertain. It is believed to have been established in the 3rd century BCE under the rule of Ptolemy Soter or his son, Ptolemy Philadelphus, and was located in the Royal Quarter of Alexandria, Egypt. The library played a crucial role in preserving Greek literature and philosophy, with notable librarians like Demetrius Phalereus, Zenodotus of Ephesus, and Aristarchus of Samothrace contributing to its extensive collection and organization.
Despite its significance, the library's existence was marred by controversy regarding its acquisition methods; it was reported that ships entering Alexandria had their books seized and copied. The library suffered several disasters over the years, including potential damage during Julius Caesar's campaign in 48 BCE and a significant attack by a bishop in 391 CE that likely destroyed its annex. While stories suggest that further destruction occurred in 642 CE under Arab conquest, the veracity of these claims is debated. The legacy of the Library of Alexandria continues to evoke fascination, symbolizing both the heights of scholarly achievement and the fragility of cultural heritage.
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Alexandrian Library
Related civilizations: Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt.
Date: c. 300 b.c.e.-before 700 c.e.
Locale: Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandrian Library
Much is in doubt about the Alexandrian library: its founder (Ptolemy Soter or his son, Ptolemy Philadelphus); its location (somewhere in the Royal Quarter); its relationship to the Alexandrian museum; the size, nature, and organization of its holdings; and its ultimate fate. The Peripatetic philosopher Demetrius Phalereus may have been “founding librarian,” with Aristotle’s library as his model. Subsequent librarians included Zenodotus of Ephesus, Aristophanes of Byzantium, and Aristarchus of Samothrace; all three produced editions of Homer and other poets, demonstrating the library’s crucial role in preserving Greek literature for future generations.
Ancient anecdotes highlight dubious collecting methods. Every ship unloading at Alexandria was supposed to be searched, its books seized and copied, and the copies given to the original owners. Other Hellenistic rulers followed the Ptolemies’ example in founding libraries, especially the Attalids in Pergamum.
The library may have burned when Julius Caesar set fire to the Egyptian fleet in 48 b.c.e., but the library continued to exist during the Roman period. The bishop of Alexandria led an attack on the Serapeum (temple to Sarapis) in 391 c.e. and presumably destroyed the annex library that had been built there. ՙAmr ibn al-ՙĀṣ, Arab conqueror of Egypt in 642 c.e., is said to have consigned the library’s books to Alexandria’s baths for fuel, but this story seems to have arisen only in the twelfth century c.e.
Bibliography
Canfora, Luciano. The Vanished Library. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990.
El-Abbadi, Mostafa. The Life and Fate of the Ancient Library of Alexandria. 2d ed. Paris: UNESCO, 1992.
Frazer, Peter M. Ptolemaic Alexandria. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1972.