In ancient times, libraries were not as widespread as they are today. However, there is one library that stands out among the rest – The Library of Alexandria.
The Library of Alexandria
The Library of Alexandria was established in the 3rd century BCE in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. This library was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. It is believed that this library was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian general and companion of Alexander the Great.
The Collection
The Library of Alexandria was considered to be a universal library, which meant that it aimed to collect all knowledge from all over the world. It had a vast collection of manuscripts from various cultures and languages, including Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Persian, Indian, and Chinese literature.
The library’s collection was not limited to books only; it also had a museum and research center that housed artifacts and scientific instruments. Scholars from all over the world came to study at this prestigious institution.
The Destruction
Unfortunately, The Library of Alexandria did not survive through time. It faced several disasters throughout its existence – fires caused by war or accident being among them.
The final destruction occurred during Julius Caesar’s invasion in 48 BCE when parts of the library were set on fire. It is unclear how much knowledge was lost during these incidents.
Conclusion
Despite its fate, The Library of Alexandria remains an icon in history for its contribution towards preserving and spreading knowledge across different cultures and languages. Its legacy has inspired many modern libraries worldwide to follow in its footsteps by collecting information and making it available to anyone who seeks it.
So we can say that The Library Of Alexandria is one such library that was established in ancient times with a great purpose- To Collect Knowledge from around the world!