Welcome to Day 5 of the #AtoZchallenge where I am exploring the library world in alphabetical order.
E is for Egypt
One of the mysteries of the ancient world centers around the Royal Library in the port city of Alexandria, Egypt.
It is believed that scholar Demetrious of Phalerum, convinced Ptolemy I Soter (a Macedonian general who was the successor to Alexander the Great) to establish a library which would contain a copy of every book in existence. The library was a part of a center of learning which included a museum with shrines to the nine muses, laboratories, observatories, botanical gardens, and a zoo. This would establish Alexandria as a center of learning to rival Athens.
Over 100 scholars lived and worked within the learning center. One of their responsibilities was to copy and translate Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian, and Persian papyrus scrolls and books as well as Buddhist texts and Hebrew scriptures. When ships arrived in Alexandria, the crews were required to surrender manuscripts to authorities. The texts were copied with the originals being placed in the library and the copies given to the original owners. The library housed the works of Aristotle, Plato, Sophocles, Euripides and much more.
The destruction of the library is considered to be “the greatest catastrophe in the ancient world” as the most complete collection of ancient literature was lost. Historians disagree on how the library was destroyed but have several theories.
- One theory places Julius Caesar as the prime suspect. During his occupation of Alexandria, he ordered soldiers to set Egyptian ships on fire. The flames got out of control and spread onshore burning the library and its contents.
- Another theory suggests that Roman Emperor Theodosius I had the library destroyed in order to rid the country of paganism.
- Some scholars believe that when Alexandria was captured by a Muslim army, Calif Omar ordered the vast collection of learning destroyed. The scrolls were supposedly collected and used as fuel for the 4,000 bathhouses in the city.
In 2002, Egypt opened the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina with the same goals as the original library of creating a place for advancing knowledge and creating a place for research and international exchange of ideas. Countries from around the world contributed money for the building. Fortunately, it is fireproof.
For comic book fans, you might be interested in Uncle Scrooge Adventures #27 – Guardians of the Lost Library which follows Scrooge McDuck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie as they search for the lost Library of Alexandria.
Written in 1994 by Don Rosa as a way to encourage kids to become interested in books, it is considered by Comic Buyer’s Guide as one of the best comic book stories of all time. I’d love to find a copy.
Amazing post on Egypt! I have always been fascinated about Egypt, maybe because my ex-boyfriend had proposed me on Skype, while he was in Egypt!!! Anyway, loved your post!!!
Lots of Love,
Ashmita Chatterjee of Chaoticsoulzzz
https://chaoticsoulzzz.wordpress.com/
That is so romantic!!! But, it wasn’t meant to be for you two.
This mythical library had to be on the list. I would like to read the comic too, I love those characters.
By the way, Egypt seems to be trendy today in the challenge! I’ve just read two very different posts about the matter, that maybe interest you:
https://truenorthbricks.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/e-is-for-egypt/
nilabose.blogspot.com/2017/04/e-is-forenticing.html
Hi Eva,
There’s lots of possibilities for E with Egypt!
Great to find another Egypt themed post! My thanks to Eva!
According to some local writers/historians, the library was burnt long before the Arab conquest of Egypt. A concise and exact summing of the available facts in your post, enjoyed reading it. We’ll probably never know the whole truth.
Nice to meet you,
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
Hi Nilanja, I think you’re probably right about the library being burned long before the Arab conquest. I don’t think the scrolls would have made it through the original fires.
I don’t know much about Egypt so I had fun reading about this ancient library. What a shame it was destroyed. I can only imagine what wealth of information it contained.
Interesting research on the library in Alexandria and how the printed word was so cherished. Then, to learn of the destruction and placing might before art was devastating. We must learn from history. Wonderful to see Egypt has rebuilt a place to share and preserve knowledge.
Hopefully the new library will be able to be a place for the free exchange of ideas and information.
Let’s hope that the library is a place where ideas and information can be freely exchanged.
The loss of Alexandria’s library was such a devastating tragedy! Fire holds nothing sacred, and doesn’t care it’s destroying so much knowledge, poetry, history, and literature. It’s even sadder to think about the loss of books, films, and other things which don’t have any duplicate copies in other archives, museums, and libraries.
Another good pic for the letter du jour. Like you I want libraries to be safe harbors where free and uncensored information is available to anyone. Good luck for the rest of the alphabet.