Library of Alexandria
The Library of Alexandria was one of the greatest and most legendary libraries in the history of mankind. The Great Library contained the total sum of ancient Egypt’s knowledge and lore as well as most works of various Ancient scholars. It was founded sometime after the birth of the Egyptian sea port of ALEXANDRIA by Alexander the Great during the 4th century BC. The Great Library soon be came the intellectual and scientific center of the ancient world. From all over the Mediterranean, scholars and scientists traveled to Alexandria to study its unbelievable collection of books on astronomy, medicine, geography, biology, mathematics, architecture, philosophy and literature. Virtually every famous arcane or notable volume was to be found stored on its network of shelves available for all in their quest for research or merely the pleasure of reading. Exactly how many scrolls were available is difficult to determine but most certainly they number into the hundreds of thousands.
Unfortunately, the library was located near the harbor and was reputed to have been beautiful, with columns, gardens, laboratories and study areas. The choice of the harbor location was originally considered beneficial. However, this proved to be wrong in the event of war. When Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria in 48 BC, he was eventually attacked by the Egyptians, namely the forces of Cleopatra’s brother Ptolemy. Caesar’s defensive tactics caused a major fire in the harbor. The library was struck by flames and the scrolls vanished. Few scrolls survived the disaster. Those saved were destroyed some 400 years later, when the Christians of Alexandria destroyed all pagan cultural effects in a religious ferver.
