In ancient times, the Alexandria Museyon was a center of scientific and cultural life Countries of the Pharaohs. He also owned the Library of Alexandria - one of the great mysteries of Egypt and the whole world. It was one of the largest libraries ancient world. The ruins of a subsidiary building called the Serapillion were found, but this is very little to understand what the entire Library of Alexandria looked like. History is silent about what its main buildings looked like, where they were located, and what ultimately happened to them.
Historical reference
In 332 BC, the city of Alexandria, founded on the lands that Alexander the Great conquered from the Egyptians, was proclaimed by him as the future source of knowledge for the whole world. It was Alexander the Great, who considered knowledge an integral attribute of power, who came up with the idea of founding a library and research center in this place.
However, the Library of Alexandria opened in 323 BC, after his death. This happened under Ptolemy the First Soter, who was the successor of Alexander the Great and the first ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty - the rulers of Egypt. Under Ptolemy the First, Alexandria became the capital of Egypt. Demetrius of Phalerum, who was a student of Theophrastus (a student of Aristotle), was invited by Ptolemy Soter to organize the work of the Alexandrian Library and the entire Alexandrian Museion.
Now it’s hard to believe that more than two thousand years ago people sought to understand the world, and were not only busy with internecine wars and conquering territories from each other. The Library of Alexandria once again confirms that even in such a distant past people were drawn to knowledge. Anyone could visit it and study any book that interested him, having previously undergone a purification ritual.
The authorities helped ensure that as much information as possible flowed into the library in Alexandria. Thinkers and scientists from many Hellenistic countries came to Alexandria. Scholars claim that all books found in incoming ships were sent to the library. There they were copied by copyists, and copies were sent to the owners.
The Library of Alexandria gave the world many great scientists - Aristarchus of Samos, Eratosthenes, Zenodotus, Fecritus, Philo, Plotius, Eratus, Euclid, Callimachus. These names are known throughout the world to this day. Unique works on geometry, trigonometry, astronomy, literature, linguistics and medicine were written here.
Copies of all significant manuscripts ended up in the library in Alexandria, and, according to scientists, during its heyday it contained 100-700 thousand papyrus scrolls in many languages of the world. For several centuries, the Library of Alexandria was the only repository in the world of the works of world scientists and philosophers - such as Archimedes, Euclid and Hippocrates.
Speculation about disappearance
The fate and history of the library in Alexandria remains completely unexplored to this day. Scientists still cannot come to a consensus as to when and why the Library of Alexandria was destroyed.
There is a version that in 48-47 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar burned ships moored off the coast of Alexandria during a naval battle, but the fire spread to the library building and it burned along with a huge number of books.
After the death of the great queen of Egypt Cleopatra in 30 BC (she was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty), Alexandria lost its former power. The Library of Alexandria was no longer supported by the state as before, but still continued its work.
It is known that under Emperor Theodosius, the Library of Alexandria was located in the Temple of Serapis and was partially destroyed by Christian fanatics in 391.
Many scholars suggest that the Library of Alexandria finally fell in the 7th-8th centuries, when Alexandria was captured by the Arabs. By order of the Arab rulers of Egypt, who were Muslims, all the books were burned.
More likely, the real reason The death of the library can be considered all these facts from history, and not just one. But some scrolls were still preserved and sent to the libraries of Mediterranean countries and countries Western Europe. These books had a very great influence on the intellectual development of European society.
Revival of a unique book depository
Instead of the Library of Alexandria, which was destroyed more than one and a half thousand years ago, a new one was created - the Library of Alexandrina. UNESCO Organization, the Government of Egypt, some European countries, Arab world and Japan joined forces to revive the unique book depository. Many countries around the world contributed to the creation of the library fund by donating books.
Preparatory work was carried out in 1992-1995. The construction of the library took 7 years, and the approximate cost was $250 million. The construction work was carried out by a consortium of construction companies from England and Italy under the leadership of the Austrian architect Christopher Capelle and construction company"Shohetta".
The new building has a very original shape and looks like sundial or a huge drum that tilts towards the sea. The roof is made of glass - its diameter is 160 meters, and its area is comparable to the area of a football field. The library rooms are located on eleven lower tiers. The repository can hold 8 million books. The library also has a conference room, a special room for people with visual impairments, a room for children, a planetarium, museums, art galleries and a workshop where handwritten documents are restored. The book depository now contains 7.5 million books, with 500 thousand available for study.
Currently, the director of the library is a professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Ismail Sarajuddin. All information about the library, as well as photos and videos can be found on the official website www.bibalex.org.
IN ancient history There are milestones that people still want to constantly refer to today. First of all, this refers to the sources of ancient wisdom. Its generally recognized concentration was the Library of Alexandria, which was part of the most important scientific center ancient world- Alexandria Museum. This grandiose symbol human knowledge was created three centuries BC by the Egyptian king Ptolemy I.
During the reign of his son, Ptolemy II, the library was greatly expanded. About 500 thousand manuscripts were collected in its repositories. But the most legendary pages of the library are associated with the great scientists who worked in it. Here one could meet the mathematician Euclid, the philologist Aristarchus, the geographer and historian Strabo, the mathematician and mechanic Archimedes, the astronomer, mathematician and geographer Eratosthenes, as well as famous artists and writers. About forty years ago, professors at the University of Alexandria had the idea of building a new modern library. According to their ideas, it was supposed to become “a link between the past and the future.” The library is designed to assist the region in reviving long-standing traditions in the fields of education and science.
Through the efforts of scientists, the government of Egypt was involved in the case, which enlisted the support of UNESCO. As a result, the project acquired an international scope. Norwegian architects won the competition. The issue of financing was resolved at a conference in Aswan. In addition to the Egyptian government, more than twenty countries contributed funds.
The first stone for the library building was laid in 1988, and the official opening of the new cultural center took place in 2002.
The gigantic structure of the complex was built from concrete, granite, glass and aluminum. Its parts are connected by a transition bridge spanning a busy street. Unique roof the size of two football fields. It functions as a huge window. Thanks to the slope, the light-filled interior spaces offer beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. The outer wall of the building is lined with gray granite. The letters of the ancients and modern alphabets. It is a symbol of ongoing cultural dialogue. The rooms hidden from view are of greatest interest. They are below sea level. A significant part of the internal space is occupied by a spacious multi-tiered reading room. Two thousand visitors can work in it at the same time; during work it is necessary to maintain silence and there is video surveillance. This is the largest reading room in the world. The modern house of wisdom is complemented by satellite communication systems and hundreds of modern computers.
Modern encyclopedia
The largest collection of handwritten books in antiquity (from 100 to 700 thousand volumes). Founded in the beginning 3rd century BC e. at the Alexandria Museion. part of the Library of Alexandria burned down in 47 BC. e., part destroyed in 391 AD. e., remains in the 7th-8th centuries... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Library of Alexandria- ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY, the largest collection of handwritten books in antiquity (from 100 to 700 thousand volumes) at the Alexandria Museion. Part of the Library of Alexandria burned down in 47 BC; part was destroyed in 391 AD, the remains in the 7th-8th centuries... ... Illustrated encyclopedic Dictionary
The largest collection of handwritten books in antiquity (from 100 to 700 thousand volumes). Founded at the beginning of the 3rd century. BC e. at the Alexandria Museion. Part of the Library of Alexandria burned down in 47 BC. e., part destroyed in 391 AD. e. during the internecine... encyclopedic Dictionary
The most famous library in antiquity, founded in Alexandria (See Alexandria) at the Alexandria Museion (See Alexandria Museion) at the beginning of the 3rd century. BC e. under the first Ptolemies. Headed by A. b. major scientists: Eratosthenes,... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
This is the greatest and most famous book depository of the ancient world, founded by the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus (see this next). Already under the first Ptolemy Soter, the Athenian Demetrius of Phalerum collected about 50 tons of books or scrolls, and during the greatest... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Library of Alexandria- the most famous and largest library of the Ancient world. Basic at the beginning of the 3rd century. BC. in Alexandria (Egypt) during the reign of the Greek Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. Was part of one of the chapters. scientific centers of the ancient world of Alexandria... ... Pedagogical terminological dictionary
Library of Alexandria- Events associated with the founding of the museum and library, and their consequences In the previous chapter, we showed a series of mutations in the traditional way of life of man and their reflection in new philosophical movements, and also mentioned the emergence of new centers ... Western philosophy from its origins to the present day
ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY- ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY, one of the cultural institutions of the Hellenistic era. Founded in Alexandria of Egypt at the beginning of the 3rd century. BC e. It contained about 700 thousand papyrus scrolls, which included works ancient Greek literature And… … Literary encyclopedic dictionary
Library of Alexandria- this is the greatest and most famous book depository of the ancient world, founded by the Egyptian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Already under the first Ptolemy Soter, the Athenian Demetrius of Phalerum collected about 50 tons of books or scrolls, and during the greatest ... ... Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary
Books
- Book of Rastafarian Wisdom / The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Series, Kebra Nagast. 192 pp. This book is the first Russian edition the famous sacred book of the ancient Abyssinians, dating back to the Old Testament and telling about the dynasty of Ethiopian kings (the founder of which, according to...
- Alexandrian philology and Homeric hexameter, V.V. Fayer. The Ptolemaic Library of Alexandria is the birthplace of European philology. Zenodotus, Aristophanes and Aristarchus, who headed it in the 3rd-2nd centuries, were primarily engaged in textual criticism...
1. Secrets of the Library of Alexandria
The city of Alexandria was founded in 332 BC. Alexander the Great, it was said that Alexander, when founding Alexandria, inscribed on the plan given to him the first five letters of the alphabet: ABGDE. It meant: “Alexandros Vasileve Genos Dios Ectis” - “Alexander the king, the offspring of Zeus, founded...” This was an omen that the city was destined to become famous for the verbal sciences.
Fresco of ancient Alexandria as a center of wisdom
Alexander the Great (Great) (356-323 BC)
Alexandria was the most big city Greek world. It was built scientifically, the streets intersected at right angles, the main one was 30 meters wide; surrounded by a colonnade, it stretched for a whole hour's walk, from the Gate of the Sun to the Gate of the Moon. At the central intersection there was a square, and on the square there was a gigantic mausoleum with the body of Alexander the Great. Closer to the sea stood the royal palace, and next to it was a house, dedicated to the Muses: Musey. The Museum was not a museum in our sense of the word: the Greeks did not like to store the fragments of ancient cultures. It was a place where work on living culture was going on, something like an academy of sciences and a university. The idea of Musaeus was given to King Ptolemy by Demetrius of Phalerum; here, with the royal money, the same development of all sciences was carried out at once, which Demetrius’s teacher Aristotle dreamed of in his Lyceum. 
Ptolemy I Soter (367-283 BC), supervised the construction of the Library of Alexandria. 
Plan of the Library of Alexandria
King Ptolemy himself invited the best scientists and poets from all over the world to Alexandria. One irreverent philosopher called Musya “the chicken coop of the Muses.” There was a courtyard for walks, a hall for conversations, rooms for classes with students, laboratories, observatories, and a dining room for common meals. And most importantly, there was a library.
Archimedes was educated and worked here, the wonderful mechanic Heron worked for many years, who built the first automatic devices (gear jack, blower, etc.), the creator of geometry Euclid, the pioneer of surgery Herophilus, the famous ancient geographer Strabo. 
Vincenzo Camuccini (1771-1844). Ptolemy II studies a papyrus scroll. Alexandria Library.
It’s strange for us to imagine, but Athens did without books or almost without books. In small towns, where everyone knew everyone, culture was learned through voice: those who did not know asked, those who knew answered. Anyone who wanted to have, say, the works of Plato, went to the Academy and himself copied them from his students. Now, after Alexander, everything has changed. The world has expanded, people have moved away from their homes, asking “how to live?” Now no one had it - only smart books. People rushed to read, buy, and collect books; In response to demand, workshops appeared where books were copied for sale. The largest book workshop was Egypt: papyrus grew here, and books were written on papyrus scrolls. And the largest collection of books was the Library of Alexandria. 
Papyrus.
The lines were lined with a lead wheel, written with a reed pen, the ink was made from the black juice of cuttlefish or from “ink nuts” - growths on oak leaves. Mistakes were washed off with a sponge or simply licked off with the tongue. Titles and capital letters were written in red—hence the expression “from the red line.” If a book was made for sale, then the scribe wrote in neat capital letters: letter under letter, as if in boxes (“printed,” we would say); if for yourself, then in cursive, haphazardly. They wrote without separating words, and to make it easier to read, sometimes they placed accent marks above the line. Pauses were marked with a vertical line. Many centuries later, our comma came from this dash.
Copyist of books in the Library of Alexandria.
Alexandrian scholars tried very hard to obtain the oldest, most reliable manuscripts for their library. King Ptolemy gave the order: a book search should be carried out on all ships that enter the port of Alexandria; if one of the travelers has a book with him, select it, make a copy and give this copy to the owner, and leave the book for the library. The most reliable manuscripts of the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were kept in Athens, in the archives of the Theater of Dionysus. Ptolemy asked for these manuscripts on a large deposit in order to compare the books of his library with them. The Athenians gave it, and, of course, the king sacrificed the deposit, returned the copies, and left the manuscripts in Alexandria. About 700 thousand scrolls were collected in the Library of Alexandria. Everything that was ever written in Greek was kept here. The list of these books itself (with information about the authors and content) occupied 120 scrolls; it was compiled by the same Callimachus who said: “ Big Book- a great evil." In addition to the main book depository at Musaeus, it was necessary to build a second one, at the Temple of Serapis. They stood for six more than centuries.
In the Library of Alexandria.
Alexandria was the most cosmopolitan city of the Hellenistic East. Its population consisted of several groups: descendants of the indigenous inhabitants, settlers from Kanopus, Greeks and Macedonians, Jews, and from the 2nd century BC - Romans and Italians. Religious life the city in the Hellenistic and early Christian eras was very colorful: local cults of Sarapis and Isis, numerous Egyptian pagan gods were identified with the Greeks. Through Alexandria, eastern cults began to spread throughout the Mediterranean. In the first centuries after the birth of Christ, the Egyptians who converted to Christianity, the Copts, became a special group. Here, according to legend, the holy Apostle Mark preached. From the first years of Christianity, the Bishop of Alexandria enjoyed special respect, eventually taking on the titles of patriarch and pope and becoming the head of one of the ancient Patriarchates - the Alexandrian Patriarchate. Orthodox Church. At the turn of the era, the population of Alexandria grew rapidly: if at the beginning of the 1st century BC it was 300 thousand, then after 100 years it reached, according to some estimates, 1 million. And despite all the diversity of cultures and beliefs, relative peace reigned here for more than six centuries. The decline began in the 4th-5th centuries AD due to the rise of Constantinople, the capital of Christian Byzantium. What was once considered beautiful and worthy was now being rebuilt or destroyed - the struggle of Christianity against paganism acquired the first signs of violence. A terrible bloody drama led to the end of the era of prosperity of Alexandria.
2. Hypatia (Hypatia)
At the turn of the 5th century, the pride of Alexandria became the first woman in history - scientist, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer Hypatia (370 - 415). Her father was Theon, a famous mathematician, astronomer and mechanic of that time. Not far from their house was the famous Library of Alexandria. From the early childhood the girl enthusiastically listened to her wise father, who taught her older brother, absorbing knowledge like a sponge, and very soon brilliantly solved those problems that her brother could not do. The girl was distinguished by her amazing intelligence and, what was especially rare, showed extraordinary mechanical abilities. She spent a long time watching the artisans work. Imitating Theon, she made simple instruments needed for astronomical observations. Thanks to her outstanding scientific works, the fame of Hypatia spread far beyond the borders of Alexandria. She was called the smartest, most modest and best of philosophers. Hypatia spent many years reading the books of ancient philosophers. Her breadth of interests, amazing capacity for work, sharpness of mind, deep understanding of Plato and Aristotle earned her the respect of the professors at Museion. She was still very young when she had her first students. Hypatia was distinguished by her extraordinary beauty, but instead of the usual clothes of a young girl, she began to wear the dark cloak of a philosopher. 
Meanwhile, peace-loving Christianity in Alexandria fought against paganism. The most beautiful pagan temple, the Serapetum, was destroyed and plundered, and “at the same time,” the nearby Library of Alexandria. Frightened, Theon locked his daughter in the house so that she would not rush to the useless defense of the abode of knowledge. Hypatia cried for several days in a row and for a long time could not return to ordinary life. She wore mourning for a very long time, and when she took it off, she went into science the way others go into a monastery, devoting herself entirely to mathematics, astronomy, mechanics, and philosophy. Except scientific works Hypatia, as before, was engaged in teaching. More and more students flocked to listen to her lectures.
After the defeat of the Serapeum, many leading scientists left Alexandria forever. But Theon and his daughter remained. It is permissible for a money changer, not a scientist, to refer to the proverb “The homeland is where it is good.” A true scientist will not leave his homeland in times of trial.
Theon and Hypatia's school continued to operate. Hypatia achieved perfection in the difficult art of stargazing. She not only developed the ideas of the great astronomer and mathematician Claudius Ptolemy, many years of observations allowed her to make a number of amendments to his work. She compiled more accurate astronomical tables. The daughter surpassed her father in astronomy. The glory of Hypatia eclipsed the glory of Theon. 
Hypatia amazed me with its versatility. She became widely famous for her teaching of philosophy and mathematics. However, with no less brilliance she read about Homer or. about Greek tragedians. Hypatia also knew books by Christian writers very well. One of her favorite students, Synesius, bishop of Ptolemais, did not dare to publish his theological work without Hypatia's approval.
The Hypatia school was attended by people from different countries. Pagans sat next to the Christians. Her former students could be found both at the episcopal see and at the court in Constantinople. It was a pleasure to listen to Hypatia. It became fashionable to visit Hypatia's house. The whole flower of learned Alexandria gathered around her. The prefect of Alexandria himself, Orestes (a Christian), was often her guest.
The new bishop of Alexandria, Cyril, was haunted by the glory of the wisest. Pagan! Woman! Genius! Being not a very smart person himself (albeit a prolific writer), he preferred to deal with force with someone whom he could not deal with with words. Kirill set religious fanatics against his “rival.” Hypatia was dragged into christian temple and there they stoned him to death. The remains were burned at the stake. Her students fled the city or were killed. Alexandria, as a scientific and Cultural Center ceased to exist. Kirill devoted the rest of his life to “withdrawal from circulation” of scientific works talented woman. He succeeded in this. Almost none of Hypatia's works have survived to this day. But her glory, the wisest of the wise, overcame centuries-old barriers and we know that she existed. At the time of her death, Hypatia, according to the most conservative estimates, was about fifty years old.
The fame of Hypatia was too loud, and it was not so easy to portray this wonderful woman as a fiend of hell. The Church chose a different path. Hypatia was made almost a Christian martyr. In the “Life of St. Cyril of Alexandria” everything already looks like this: “In Alexandria there lived one girl named Hypatia, the daughter of the philosopher Theon. She was a believing and virtuous woman and, distinguished by Christian wisdom, spent her days in purity and chastity, observing virginity. From her youth, she was taught philosophy by her father Theon and was so successful in philosophy that she surpassed all the philosophers who lived in those days. She did not even want to get married, partly out of a desire to freely practice philosophy and study books, but in particular she preserved her virginity. love for Christ." She was killed by "peace-hating rebels"
The collision of the defender of the ancient worldview, “cheerful and bright,” with the approaching “darkness of the Middle Ages” is a fertile topic for novelists, especially if they are not too burdened by the love of historical authenticity. Lecomte de Lisle saw in Hypatia a symbol of the dying Hellenic culture, the last incarnation of “the spirit of Plato and the body of Aphrodite.” Two novels dedicated to Hypatia have been translated into Russian by Fritz Mauthner and Charles Kingsley.
What's the result? Knowledge of history is useful because we see in this history both good Christians - such as Prefect Orestes, and Greek philosophers, such as Hypatia. They pitted conscience against violence - but lost. They lost when violence was the main language. But history repeats itself, it’s not for nothing that the new Alexandria is now considered... the Internet is a place where the most contradictory opinions coexist and heated but peaceful discussions arise. How long will this last? Six and a half centuries?
Wikipedia materials were used; bubligum9000; popular science sites on the Internet.
The Library of Alexandria is rightfully considered a unique object of the ancient world, but, unfortunately, lost. However, there are many secrets associated with it. And the reason for her disappearance still remains a mystery.
In 332 BC. A city was founded on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the Nile Delta. According to legends he designed new town Deinocrates of Rhodes himself, on behalf of the great commander Alexander the Great. The city was conceived as a center of science. Alexandria, the name the city received, was connected to the island of Pharos, on which there was a structure unique at that time - Alexandrian lighthouse. During its heyday, the population of Alexandria reached about a million people, most of whom were scholars of Greek and Jewish origin. Despite the glory of the Faros Lighthouse (it belongs to the “seven wonders of the world” of the ancient world), the Library of Alexandria overshadowed its glory.
The founder of this library is considered to be one of the closest associates of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy the First (Savior). Ptolemy, after the death of Alexander the Great and the collapse of the empire of the great conqueror, became the king of Egypt and the founder of the Ptolemid Dynasty. He managed to make Alexandria the center and capital of the Egyptian state. Ptolemy the First invited many famous scientists to Alexandria, including Demetrius of Phalerum, who was a student of Theophrastus. Theophrastus studied with Aristotle himself.
At one time, Aristotle was considered Plato's most talented student. Aristotle began collecting his own library during the conquests of Alexander the Great. After Aristotle's death, his library, numbering more than forty thousand handwritten books, passed to Theophrastus.
Demetrius of Phalerum had extensive management experience, having previously served as ruler of Athens. It was he who suggested that Ptolemy buy the library of the great Aristotle from Theophrastus. This collection of books was considered, at that time, the best. Thanks to Ptolemy, it was Aristotle's library that became the basis of the Library of Alexandria. On the advice of Demetrius of Phalerus, the work of the Library of Alexandria was organized in the likeness of Aristotle's Lyceum and Plato's Academy. It was the scientists of the Library of Alexandria who translated the Pentateuch of the Old Testament into Greek. According to legend, the work was carried out by seventy the best translators, so the translation was called the Septuagint. Ptolemy actively collected his library for 23 years. He made every effort to recruit one of the founders of Attian comedy and a follower of Homer, Menander, to work in the Library of Alexandria.
The lifelong work of his father Ptolemy the First was successfully continued by his son, Ptolemy Philadelphus. He ordered, regardless of costs, to buy or make copies of all books available in Greece and abroad. Ptolemy was especially interested in books from the famous sanctuaries of the islands of Rhodes and Athens.
The Alexandria Science Center was a complex that included a university, an observatory, a library and a botanical garden. More precisely, there were two libraries. The first was located next to the royal palace of Ptolemy, and the second was in the temple of Serapis. The Temple of Serapis housed about 42 thousand special books, and in addition, its collections contained most of the copies of books from the main library. It was believed that the library of Serapis had great importance to establish Christianity in the Roman Empire, and therefore had a religious orientation. But the first library was considered secular. The library collections of both libraries were actively and constantly replenished. For this purpose, missions and ships were sent to all corners of the earth to purchase manuscripts and books. The Egyptian ruling dynasty introduced a procedure according to which every ship arriving in Alexandria was obliged to transfer to the library all the books on board for copying or sale. For comparison, in the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus there were 400 thousand books in the Library of Alexandria, and after 200 years their number was already 700 thousand. Some of these books were copies, which were made by numerous scribes of the Library of Alexandria. Sometimes these copies were sold, given away, or exchanged with other collections. Copies of books were used and how teaching aids at the University of Alexandria.
At the same time, about a hundred talented students were studying at the university. Teaching was carried out by the most eminent scientists of Alexandria. The position of curator of the Library of Alexandria was very honorable, but it also imposed great responsibilities on the executor. IN different times The library's custodians were famous scientists: Eratosthenes of Cyrene, Aristophanes of Byzantium, Zenodotus of Ephesus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Claudius Ptolemy. Each of them contributed huge contribution in the development of world culture and historical science and therefore they rightfully occupied such a high position. For example, Zenodotus of Ephesus created the most full version Homer's Odyssey and Iliad. Eratosthenes was the founder of geography. It was he who developed the method of constructing geographical maps, created a generalized map of the world, calculated the circumference of the Earth and developed a solar calendar, later called the Julian calendar (put into circulation at the behest of Julius Caesar). Another library keeper, Claudius Ptolemy, created a geocentric system of the world.
The greatest scientists of antiquity made their discoveries in the Library of Alexandria: Euclid, Archimedes, Aristarchus of Samos, Theon of Alexandria and others.
The Library of Alexandria collected a huge amount written sources antiquities.
But, as we mentioned above, an even greater mystery is the death of the library. Until now, no one can reliably indicate the cause of the death of the book collection of the Library of Alexandria. Of all the versions, three main ones can be distinguished.
The library was destroyed by fire in 47 BC. At this time, the territory of Alexandria was drawn into the so-called Alexandrian War. The dynastic struggle between eldest daughter Ptolemy the Twelfth with Cleopatra and her young brother. Julius Caesar took Cleopatra's side, and with his help she received the throne of Egypt. According to available information, Julius Caesar fought on the streets of Alexandria with a small detachment of his own; they were opposed by significant enemy forces. To deprive his troops of the opportunity to escape from the battlefield, he ordered the Roman ships stationed in the city’s harbor to be set on fire. And these ships had already loaded a significant number of manuscripts and valuables belonging to the Library of Alexandria - they were planned to be evacuated to Rome. From the pier the fire spread to the city. Roman soldiers from Syria arrived to help Caesar, and the revolt was suppressed. Despite the fact that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra managed to win over the Roman military leaders Caesar and then Mark Antony, Rome did not come to terms with the defiant independence of Egypt. In 31 BC. The Egyptians suffered a crushing defeat from the Roman fleet. As a result, Cleopatra and Mark Antony committed suicide, and Egypt became one of the provinces of Great Rome. The Library of Alexandria became the property of the Roman Empire.
We must pay tribute to Mark Antony, who managed to restore the library’s book fund, which was lost as a result of a fire caused by Caesar. He bought the entire library of Pergamon, which contained almost all copies of the books in the library of Alexandria. Some of these books cost a fortune. All these books were subsequently transferred to the Library of Alexandria.
The library of Alexandria was again damaged during the capture of Egypt by Zenobia Palmyra. The Roman Empire entered the fight against the troops of Zenobia. During this war, Zenobia's supporters destroyed and plundered part of the collection of the Library of Alexandria. But after the capture of Zenobia, the library was restored again.
Another senseless and brutal looting of the library of Alexandria occurred in 391 during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Great. Crowds of Christian fanatics, inspired by Bishop Theophilus, burst into the library, destroying “all pagan and heretical books.” Fanatics, trying to prove the primacy of Christianity with their prank, set fire to the library. According to another version, the library’s collections were previously transported to Rome and the island of Rhodes in a timely manner. This assumption is confirmed by the fact that soon the allegedly “burnt and destroyed” books of the Alexandria library began to appear in private libraries and collections.
But, despite the pogrom carried out by the obsessed fanatic Theophilus, the library of Alexandria was preserved and continued its work.
Having survived so many difficult moments, the Library of Alexandria was destroyed as a result of an attack on Alexandria by an Arab army led by Caliph Omar the First. According to one legend, when the caliph’s henchmen began to burn books from the library, the servants, on their knees, begged to burn them, but not to touch the books. To which the Caliph replied: “If they contain what is written in the Koran, they are useless, and if they contradict the word of Allah, they are harmful.”
The collection of the Library of Alexandria was subjected to merciless plunder and destruction. Despite the fact that the caliph sought to destroy any valuables of Alexandria, he took part of the priceless collection of the Library of Alexandria to the Arab East as his war trophy.
At the same time, despite so many theories, it is believed that the mystery of the disappearance of the Library of Alexandria still remains unsolved. It is possible that the main reason for the death of the unique scientific center of Alexandria was religious fanaticism and the large number of crazy wars that took place in this difficult region.
Just imagine that somewhere the priceless rarities of the Library of Alexandria are still stored, inaccessible to most earthlings. Or maybe this knowledge is so powerful that it should be hidden for now from people who cannot stop the wars that constantly break out in different regions of our planet?
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