The Rise and Fall of the Library of Alexandria

Origins and Ambitions

• Founded: 2,300 years ago by the rulers of Alexandria
• Goal: Collect all knowledge in the world
• Prime: Housed an unprecedented number of scrolls and attracted greatest minds
• Alexander the Great: Originated the idea after establishing his empire
  • Alexander's Death: Successor Ptolemy I executed the plans for a museum and library
• Ptolemy I's Execution: Located in the royal district, possibly mixed architecture styles
  • Features: Lecture halls, classrooms, and shelves

Expansion and Collection

• Initial Collection: Mainly Greek and Egyptian scrolls
• Scholars' Contribution: Scholars invited to live and study, contributing manuscripts
• Ship Policy: Ptolemy III required ships docking at Alexandria to surrender books for copying
  • Original texts kept, copies sent back
• Book Hunters: Searched the Mediterranean for new texts
• Papyrus Exports: Ended to eliminate rivals
• Collection Size: Hundreds of thousands of books

Cataloging and Discoveries

• Callimachus of Cyrene: Created 'pinakes' - a 120-volume catalog, first of its kind
  • Allowed navigation of vast collection
• Key Discoveries:
  • Eratosthenes: Calculated earth's circumference and diameter
  • Heron of Alexandria: Invented the first steam engine

Decline and Destruction

• Julius Caesar's Siege (48 BCE): Belief that library burned during the fire
  • Continued Visits: Scholars visited the library centuries after the siege
• Change of Hands: City transitioned from Greek, to Roman, to Christian, and to Muslim control
  • View of Contents: Seen as a threat, leading to gradual decline
  • Hypatia: Mathematician murdered in 415 CE for studying Greek texts

Legacy and Modern Context

• Current Dilemma: Best ways to collect, access, and preserve knowledge
• Digital Archives: Uncertain if more resistant to destruction than ancient scrolls
• Insidious Forces: Knowledge must resist fear and arrogance
• Preparedness: Awareness of the destructive forces offers a chance to prepare