The Fate of the Library of Alexandria, Egypt

For six centuries, the Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. It was part of the Mouseon, a research institute which was dedicated to the nine muses, the goddesses of the arts.

The library was used in translating and copying the ancient world’s documents and held between 40,000 to 400,000 scrolls at its height.

Over time, the Library became affected by the rulers and invaders who took over Egypt.

According to Plutarch, Julius Caesar was the culprit in destroying the Library by fire when he ordered the boats in the harbor to be burned. The fire destroyed a portion of the library.

Theophiles, patriarch of Alexandria from 358 to 412C.B. Turned the temple of Serapis into a Christian church. The collection of books were likely destroyed by the Christians who moved in. It is believed that nearly 10 percent of the library was housed in the Temple of Serapis.

In 640CE, Alexandria came under Muslim rule. The Muslim leader, Calepis, stated that the books were either heresy or would agree with the Koran so were superfluous. The library scrolls were supposedly used as tinder for the bath houses in the city.

Little, if anything, of the library exists today.