The Hidden History of the Library of Alexandria.

Whenever there is any discussion about the greatest losses humanity has suffered, there is one place which always makes it into the conversation, and that place is the Library of Alexandria. When I was growing up, my understanding of the Library of Alexandria was of a very big library that was destroyed in one big fire. But after doing some reading on the history of the Library of Alexandria, I realized that the truth behind it was even more interesting and a lot more complex than what people usually believe.

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The Library of Alexandria was not only a place full of books. It was actually an educational hub where some of the brightest minds from all across the ancient world met and discussed different matters.

The Birth of a Great Dream

The particular library was established in the Egyptian city of Alexandria during the reign of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Indeed, as per some historical records, it was either Ptolemy I Soter or his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who came up with the concept of having an exclusive library and making it far more than just a store of books.

The goal set by these rulers seems fantastic but quite reasonable considering what took place later. According to some historical sources, they aimed to collect all of the books ever written in the world. Some ships arriving at the port of Alexandria were searched for the scrolls that could be taken and copied prior to entering the collection.

A Home for the World's Greatest Thinkers

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Whatever the truth might be, one thing becomes clear from this story, these rulers intended to gather as many books as possible. In addition, the library was linked to the institution known as the Mouseion, which is regarded as one of the oldest universities ever existed.

Scholars working there could enjoy housing, meals, and full time devoted to their research.

Many people famous for some of their discoveries studied or worked at the library. For instance, Euclid made some important contributions in the field of geometry, and Eratosthenes managed to calculate the circumference of the Earth accurately only using some observations and math.

To my mind, this is the most interesting aspect of the history of the library.

The Myth of One Great Fire

The most significant fallacy is the one where the Library of Alexandria vanished in an unfortunate accident involving fire. This might not be the case at all.

According to history scholars, the library's collection was damaged gradually over several centuries. One possible cause for this might have been the war of Julius Caesar in Alexandria. Other factors that contributed to the decline of the library include politics, different regimes, financial problems, and religious problems. The library did not vanish abruptly but rather faded gradually leaving very little behind.

This version seems to fascinate me more since I know that great institutions disappear through negligence.

What Was Really Lost?

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It is unknown how many scrolls were stored in such places. The number was estimated by some experts between several hundred thousand and much more than that; but still there is no consensus among scholars.

What makes it important is the fact that some of those books existed only because they were copied somewhere else, others have been lost forever. Try to think about the scientific theories, historical facts, philosophy, and masterpieces of literature that have never seen the light of day.

This is the reason why I always admire our luck that with the help of modern technologies it is possible to store millions of books and other documents in many places.

Why the Library Still Matters

Not only is the tale of the Library of Alexandria about the past but it also acts as an inspiration regarding the significance of education, curiosity and knowledge preservation for future generations.

To this day, libraries, museums, archives, digital data bases fulfill the exact same role which has been performed for over two thousand years. In their effort to keep ideas alive they ensure that time does not destroy the ideas themselves.

When I am reading about the Library of Alexandria, I do not only think about the ideas which have been lost by humanity. I also think about our duty to preserve our knowledge, no matter whether it is in books, on a computer or via some educational platform.

Conclusion

The secret history of the Library of Alexandria serves as an important reminder that knowledge is one of civilization's most precious resources. Even though this library no longer exists today, its influence lives on to motivate people from all walks of life – researchers, authors, and curious individuals from across the globe. The tale of this great library teaches us that gathering data alone isn't enough.

Probably the most important lesson that we can learn from Alexandria is that even though buildings may be destroyed, human thirst for knowledge and ability to share it will always remain intact.

Cc; @bossj23, @suboohi, and @max-pro.

Thanks for reading this post!!!