Lecture on the Destruction of the Library of Alexandria

Speaker Introduction

Dr. Edward Gonzalez-Tennant
- Lecturer at University of Central Florida, Department of Anthropology
- Lecture sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)
- Encourages joining AIA
Dr. Nancy Sirwin
- School of Art at Arizona State University
- Degrees from Princeton, University of Chicago, University of Illinois
- Research: Coroplastic arts, production, cross-cultural influences, terra cotta votive sculpture, cult rituals

Topic: The Destruction of the Library of Alexandria
- Details of the library's history and significance
- Comparison to modern destruction of libraries as a political tool

Library of Alexandria
- Repository of ancient knowledge
- Attracted top scholars from the ancient world
- Destruction: Symbol of cultural and intellectual loss
Modern Parallels
- Use of library destruction as a political weapon
- Examples include Iraq National Library, Mosul Library by ISIS

Imperial Library of Constantinople
- Fires and destruction by Crusaders
Spanish Conquest of Yucatan
- Burning of Mayan texts by Bishop Diego de Landa
Library of Congress (War of 1812)
- Destroyed by British troops
World Wars and Regional Conflicts
- Leuven Library (Belgium), Nazi book burnings, Sarajevo National Library

Impact of Loss
- Loss of texts considered a huge cultural and intellectual blow
- Discussion on how loss impacted the 'Dark Ages'
New Library of Alexandria
- Opened in 2002, symbol of cultural heritage and future knowledge