You've no doubt heard that the Great Library of Alexandria was destroyed in a fire & with it, centuries of knowledge, learning & prose.
But that's not the actual story. The TRUE story of the destruction of the Great #Library of Alexandria has more to teach us than the #myth.
But that's not the actual story. The TRUE story of the destruction of the Great #Library of Alexandria has more to teach us than the #myth.
First, the Library itself: commissioned ~280 BCE by Cleopatra's ancestor, Ptolemy I Soter, general to Alexander the Great.
The Library was part of a complex of buildings, the Mouseion, dedicated to the Muses, in the city center/royal quarter.
The Library was part of a complex of buildings, the Mouseion, dedicated to the Muses, in the city center/royal quarter.
Ships docking in Alexandria were searched for books, if found, the owner was compensated & a copy made by scribes.
Royal silver purchased entire libraries from the cities of Athens & Nineveh. At its height, it held between 40,000 and 400,000 separate works.
Royal silver purchased entire libraries from the cities of Athens & Nineveh. At its height, it held between 40,000 and 400,000 separate works.
It attracted the best scholars of the Hellenistic world: Zenodotus (Homeric scholar),
Aristophanes (invented poetic structure),
Eratosthenes of Cyrene (determined the Earth's circumference, had giant head).
Aristophanes (invented poetic structure),
Eratosthenes of Cyrene (determined the Earth's circumference, had giant head).
The decline began around 145 BC, when Ptolemy VIII, a vicious & self-serving despot, began exiling scholars who were critical of his harsh rule.
The head librarian (Aristarchus) exiled to Cyprus, triggering a diaspora of other scholars to safer cities around the Mediterranean.
The head librarian (Aristarchus) exiled to Cyprus, triggering a diaspora of other scholars to safer cities around the Mediterranean.
Surviving records show a fire started by Julius Caesar's men burning boats in harbor spread to nearby buildings, including warehouse containing books, but no evidence it burned the Mouseion.
Greek geographer Strabo writes of visiting it 30 years later to consult the volumes.
Greek geographer Strabo writes of visiting it 30 years later to consult the volumes.
No, the Great Library didn't burn down.
It was defunded.
With the death of Cleopatra VI, there simply wasn't enthusiasm for funding a center of learning in the heart of Egypt. No new tomes were added. Works were transferred to wealthy holdings in Rome, sold or discarded.
It was defunded.
With the death of Cleopatra VI, there simply wasn't enthusiasm for funding a center of learning in the heart of Egypt. No new tomes were added. Works were transferred to wealthy holdings in Rome, sold or discarded.
There's evidence the Great Library still existed in 260 AD, a crumbling building with bare shelves.
The building itself was likely destroyed by a siege in the Roman response to the Palmyrene invasion, with the collection housed in other buildings in the complex.
The building itself was likely destroyed by a siege in the Roman response to the Palmyrene invasion, with the collection housed in other buildings in the complex.
In the very final stages, the Neoplatonists (Hypatia) who controlled the remaining works were killed or exiled by Christion zealots who wanted to destroy pagan influences in Egypt.
The last of the collection was lost to time.
The last of the collection was lost to time.
So, not burned. Diaspora, defunded, privatized, and finally destroyed by religious zealots.
That's how learning and knowledge was lost in the Classical World.
salon.com/2023/04/13/def…
That's how learning and knowledge was lost in the Classical World.
salon.com/2023/04/13/def…
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