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[[Image:Library Alexandria.jpg|thumb|right|A reconstruction of the library, based on scholarly evidence.]]

[[Image:Library Alexandria.jpg|thumb|right|A reconstruction of the library, based on scholarly evidence.]]

The '''Library of Alexandria''' in [[Egypt]] was the largest [[library]] in the ancient world. It was founded at the beginning of the third century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II of [[Egypt]]. It supported the Musaeum, a temple to the Muses and a university-level center of research and learning.  

The '''Library of Alexandria''' in [[Egypt]] was the largest [[library]] in the ancient world. It was founded at the beginning of the third century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II of [[Egypt]]. It supported the Musaeum, a temple to the Muses and a university-level center of research and learning. It was destroyed in a fire in 48 BC.

The library was conceived largely as an attempt to bring together in [[Alexandria]] the whole of the earlier [[Greek]] science, art, and literature. At one point the library held close to 500,000 volumes.

The library was conceived largely as an attempt to bring together in [[Alexandria]] the whole of the earlier [[Greek]] science, art, and literature. At one point the library held close to 500,000 volumes.

Plutarch transcribes a speech by a supporter of Augustus which includes this accusation against Anthony: "He had bestowed upon [Cleopatra] the libraries from Pergamum, in which there were 200,000 volumes." Some historians have interpreted this line to suggest that Cleopatra rebuilt the library using these volumes as the basis of a new collection. But the tone of the speech is propagandistic, there is no suggestion that Plutarch concurs with any of the accusations it makes, and it does not say what library the Pergamum books were taken to.  

Plutarch transcribes a speech by a supporter of Augustus which includes this accusation against Anthony: "He had bestowed upon [Cleopatra] the libraries from Pergamum, in which there were 200,000 volumes." Some historians have interpreted this line to suggest that Cleopatra rebuilt the library using these volumes as the basis of a new collection. But the tone of the speech is propagandistic, there is no suggestion that Plutarch concurs with any of the accusations it makes, and it does not say what library the Pergamum books were taken to.  

Alexandria again become a center of learning under the Romans. It had several major libraries, including the Saraphim. The Musaeum was burned down by Aurelian in 272, along with any library holdings it might have contained. In the fourth century, the books in Alexandria's libraries were removed. (They may have been taken to Constantinople). As a pagan temple, the Saraphim was destroyed by Bishop Theophilus in AD 391. Based on this incident, [[Edward Gibbon]] blamed Christians for the destruction of the library.

Alexandria again become a center of learning under the Romans. It had several major libraries, including the Saraphim. The Musaeum was burned down by Aurelian in 272, along with any library holdings it might have contained. In the fourth century, the books in Alexandria's libraries were removed. (They may have been taken to Constantinople). As a pagan temple, the Saraphim was destroyed by Bishop Theophilus in AD 391. Based on this incident, [[Edward Gibbon]] accused Christians of destroying the library.

The loss of the library, which contained the original (and sometimes ''only'') copies of most of the ancient world's greatest works of literature, resulted in the decimation of ancient literature, and accounts for the modern paucity of ancient materials. Scholars estimate that historians now have only 1/10th of 1 percent of the ancient world's original source material to rely upon, as an almost exclusive result of the library's destruction.  As an example, among the material lost in the library was a first-hand account of the life of [[Alexander the Great]], written by his general and boyhood friend, [[Ptolemy]]. Historians know of the book's existence by a citation to it in secondary sources.

The loss of the library, which contained the original (and sometimes ''only'') copies of most of the ancient world's greatest works of literature, resulted in the decimation of ancient literature, and accounts for the modern paucity of ancient materials. Scholars estimate that historians now have only 1/10th of 1 percent of the ancient world's original source material to rely upon, as an almost exclusive result of the library's destruction.  As an example, among the material lost in the library was a first-hand account of the life of [[Alexander the Great]], written by his general and boyhood friend, [[Ptolemy]]. Historians know of the book's existence by a citation to it in secondary sources.