A century after the Ptolemies established the Library of Alexandria, King Eumenes II of Pergamum (a Greek city in Anatolia) sought to create a rival.

His library was massive -- second only to Alexandria, and its collection was a near copy.

What happened?

When Rome took over Pergamum in 133 BC, the Library lost its sponsor.

Its scrolls were likely gradually dispersed to other libraries.

According to Plutarch, Mark Antony gifted what was left to Cleopatra in 43 BC, though some scholars question this.