What We Lost and How We Lost Them.

The Library of Alexandria

The most famous library of antiquity -- and the most lied about...

After the Ptolemies took over Egypt in 305 BC, they established a scholarly institute called the Mouseion of Alexandria.

The Library was the collection supporting the Mouseion's scholars.

The goal was to have a copy of every important work of Greek literature in existence.

~145 BC, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, in a political fit, expelled all the scholars.

They were replaced with political hacks, who viewed the Mouseion as a sinecure.

Without real scholars using it, the Library limped on as a zombie institution for a couple of centuries.

There are many myths re: the Library's destruction.

But...

Julius Caesar didn't burn it down in 48 BC (there was a fire but not near the Mouseion).

And the Library was long gone before Christians (in AD391) or Muslims (in AD693) could've burned it down.

So, what did happen?

In AD272, the Broucheion quarter (the Library's home) was razed when Aurelian retook Alexandria.

In accounts of this event, there's no mention of any Library, suggesting it was already gone.

How could this be?

Papyrus has a short life; maintaining scrolls is a commitment.

You're always re-copying your scrolls.

Lose your budget? Your scrolls are dust in <100 yrs, unless you sell them.

The Library of Alexandria most likely slowly died this way.

No grand villain. Just time & indifference.

But it's not the only ancient library worth mourning...