The Library of Alexandria Survived Longer Than Thought

The Library of Alexandria was one of the largest ancient libraries.

The Library was in Alexandria, Egypt, part of the Mouseion.

Ptolemy II Philadelphus probably built the Library around 283 BC.

Interior of the Library of Alexandria showing reading and study areas.

Royal agents bought books and copied texts from ships at port.

Collectors focused on Homeric poems, gathering many manuscript copies.

Zenodotus organized texts alphabetically by the authors’ first letters.

Julius Caesar’s civil war burned part of the Library in 48 BC.

Strabo visited the Mouseion around 20 BC, so it still existed.

Library of Alexandria featured Greek columns and reading rooms.

The Serapeum library may have survived until 391 AD before destruction.

Intellectual life in Alexandria changed during the rise of Christianity.

Ruins of ancient Alexandria include Pompey's Pillar.

Library of Alexandria had Greek columns and reading rooms.