The Library of Alexandria (Encore)

Ptolemaic Decline

The decline of the Library of Alexandria began long before the infamous fire attributed to Julius Caesar. During the reign of Ptolemy VIII, the library and museum faced significant challenges, including the expulsion of scholars and territorial losses for Ptolemaic Egypt. Gary Arndt explains that the library's peak was well before Roman intervention, and its decline was marked by a lack of scholarly interest from the Romans, who were more focused on military pursuits.

The Romans weren't scholars like the Greeks were. They were jocks, not nerds.

--- Gary Arndt

Despite these challenges, the library continued to exist in some form, with branches like the one at the Temple of Serapis, which was eventually closed by Emperor Theodosius I 1.

   

Caesar's Fire

The fire during Julius Caesar's time is often mistakenly believed to have completely destroyed the Library of Alexandria. However, Gary Arndt clarifies that the fire, which started as a strategic move to burn ships in the harbor, inadvertently spread to the city and possibly the library. The extent of the damage remains uncertain, with some historians suggesting only partial destruction, while others believe the main library was unaffected.

There are no accounts indicating that the library was burned on purpose, and it's highly doubtful that it would have because there was no strategic reason to do so.

--- Gary Arndt

The library's continued existence is evidenced by Mark Antony's gift of 200,000 scrolls to Cleopatra, suggesting that the library still held significant collections 1.

   

Religious Impacts

The fate of the Library of Alexandria was further influenced by Christian and Muslim rulers. Hypatia of Alexandria, a notable scholar, was killed during a Christian riot, marking a period of religious conflict that likely contributed to the library's decline. Gary Arndt notes that the last significant mention of the library was during the conquest of Alexandria by Caliph Omar, who reportedly ordered the destruction of books not aligned with the Quran.

If those books are in agreement with the Quran, we have no need of them. And if these are opposed to the Quran, destroy them.

--- Gary Arndt

Despite these setbacks, the library's legacy endures, with a modern counterpart, the Bibliotheca Alexandria, opening in 2002 to honor its historical significance 2.