Library of Alexandria: History, Destruction Theories & Modern Legacy
Few places in human history capture the imagination like the Library of Alexandria — the greatest center of knowledge the ancient world ever created. For centuries, scholars, scientists, and philosophers traveled from across the Mediterranean to study within its halls.
Although the ancient Library was eventually lost through fires, wars, and political conflict, its legacy lives on today through the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This article explores the rise, glory, destruction, and modern rebirth of the Library — and why it remains one of the most fascinating stories in world history.
If you’re visiting Alexandria, Egypt, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is one of the most inspiring cultural landmarks you can experience — a powerful tribute to the ancient world’s greatest treasure of knowledge.
Key Takeaways – The Library of Alexandria
- ✅The Library of Alexandria is the most famous universal Library in the ancient world.
- ✅ was built in the Ptolemaic era (c. 3rd Century BCE)
- ✅ had an enormous variety of books; it was estimated to vary from 200,000 to 700,000 volumes.
- ✅ There are three theories proposed for its burning, but the cause is still unclear
- ✅ The Library of Alexandria was revived in 2002 by the UNESCO & Egyptian Government
What is the Library of Alexandria?
The Library of Alexandria is a majestic library in Alexandria City, Egypt, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was created in the Ptolemaic era and was then called the Royal Library or Museum.
Alexandria Library was different because the Greeks sought a broader worldview, so they decided to make it a universal library. It had a huge budget, and it collected books from all over the world. If they discovered a book on a ship, they would immediately take it to the Library to decide whether to return or replace it.
The Library contained an enormous variety of books, it was estimated to hold between 200,000 and 700,000 volumes. Most of which were in Greek, but also included texts from other languages and cultures, like:
- Egyptian Records
- Aristotle’s Books
- the entire body of Greek literature.
Where Was the Library of Alexandria Located?
The Library of Alexandria stood in the heart of Alexandria on Egypt’s northern coast, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was positioned near the ancient royal quarter and only a short distance from the Canopic branch of the Nile — the waterway that once connected Alexandria with the rest of Egypt. The city itself lies about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Cairo, making it one of the closest major coastal cities to the capital.
Why Alexandria Was Chosen as the City for the Library
Alexandria’s unique location made it the perfect place for a major center of knowledge. The city stood on a strategic point between the Mediterranean Sea and inland Egypt, with easy access to maritime trade routes and the Canopic branch of the Nile. This allowed scholars, merchants, and travelers from Greece, Egypt, and the wider Mediterranean world to reach it effortlessly.
The presence of Lake Maryut also provided abundant water, fertile surroundings, and natural protection. Combined with Alexandria’s diverse population and growing cultural life, the city quickly became an ideal environment for scientific learning, translation, and scholarly exchange.
Who Built the Library of Alexandria?
The idea of creating a great library in Alexandria emerged during the rule of Ptolemy I, who sought to make the city a leading center of learning in the Mediterranean world. He laid the foundations of what would become one of history’s most important cultural institutions.
The true architect of the Library’s rise, however, was Ptolemy II Philadelphus. He expanded the institution, invited scholars from across the Greek world, and created a system that made Alexandria the heart of scientific research, translation, and literary preservation.
Under his leadership, the Library accumulated hundreds of thousands of scrolls, becoming a model for other libraries in the Mediterranean and a beacon of knowledge for generations to come.
What Was Inside the Library?
The ancient Library of Alexandria was known for its vast and diverse collection of knowledge. It contained a large collection of volumes and made significant contributions to science. The main aim was to collect all the books in the world. It included works from other nations, including Babylonian history, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhist writings, and, as a result, the scholars of the Library achieved remarkable advances in many sciences, such as Mathematics, Physics, Mechanics, Geography, and Medicine.
A lot of notable and famous scholars worked at the Library of Alexandria, including:
- Archimedes
- Eratosthenes
- Euclid
- Herophilus
How books were collected
There were a lot of methods for collecting books for the Library of Alexandria, some of which included:
- Searching every ship that harboured in Alexandria port, taking any books that they could find, and replacing them with copies.
- Translating books from different languages, like the translation of the Pentateuch from Hebrew into Greek (the Septuagint).
- Researching a lot of sciences, which led to a lot of contributions in mechanics, physics, geography, and mathematics.
Why Was the Library of Alexandria So Important?
The Library of Alexandrina was important because it served as a center of scientific research and a cultural hub that enriched the scientific, artistic, and civilizational life of ancient times, making it one of the largest and most prestigious libraries of the ancient world.
The Library of Alexandria continued to develop science and knowledge in ancient times, from which many scientists emerged over the course of seven centuries.
This great Library was the source of the most important scientific facts that were discovered about the universe, in which Aristarchus found the truth of the Earth’s rotation around the sun, Eratosthenes knew that the Earth was spherical, as well as the extraction of the Atlas of Stars by Hipparchus, and the first catalogue of books by Callimachus. And from it emerged the most important mathematical, scientific, and philosophical theories.
Who Burned the Library of Alexandria? (All Theories)
Scholars still disagree on how the Library was destroyed, but there are three theories as to who caused the burning of the Library of Alexandria, as follows:
Theory 1: Julius Caesar (48 BC)
According to several authors, one of the most interesting stories from Roman accounts is that Julius Caesar accidentally destroyed the Library of Alexandria during the siege of Alexandria in 48 BC.
The stories went that when the enemy tried to destroy Julius Caesar’s fleet, Caesar was forced to repel the attack with fire launchers, and the fire spread to the shipyards, destroying the great Library.
The Library still existed during Strabo’s time, or Strabo no longer needed to mention it; another possibility is that the warehouses near the port were where manuscripts were stored, which were destroyed by Julius Caesar’s fire.
Theory 2: The Serapeum Incident (391 AD)
The second possible culprit is fourth-century Christians in 391 AD, when Emperor Theodosius issued a decree officially banning pagan practices. So, the temple of Serapis in Alexandria was destroyed and converted into a Christian church, and many documents are believed to have been destroyed in the process.
However, no evidence exists of the burning of documents in the Library of Alexandria or any library. No ancient sources mention the destruction of any library during this specific period. Therefore, there is no evidence that fourth-century Christians destroyed the Library of Alexandria.
Theory 3 — Islamic Era Allegations (Myth Debunked)
Emerged in this context was a set of accusations sent from the extremist orientalists to the Muslims who succeeded in opening Egypt without victims and amid a great welcome from the Egyptians, who agreed with the new conquerors. These orientalists are based on what was written by John Gramatticus (490-570), in the Middle Ages, that the second caliph, Rightly-Guided Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, according to his claim, ordered his governor of Egypt at the time, Amr Ibn Al-Aas, to destroy all books and manuscripts that were incompatible with the Islamic religion.
The Arab historian Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi (1364 – 1442 AD) said in his book: “that the library of Alexandria was a house of knowledge, and its contents were burnt by advice of Caliph Omar.”
When Did the Library Burn? Timeline
- 283–285 BCE: The Library of Alexandria began to take shape under Ptolemy I, with Demetrius of Phaleron helping establish its foundations as a universal library.
- 48 BCE: During the civil war in Egypt, a fire set by Julius Caesar spread from the harbor and damaged large parts of the Library’s collections.
- 391 CE: The Serapeum — a daughter library connected to the Great Library — was destroyed during religious conflicts led by Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria.
- 642 CE: The Arab conquest of Egypt took place under Amr ibn Al-Aas. Most historians agree the ancient Library had already disappeared long before this date.
- 2002: The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina was officially opened, reviving the spirit of the ancient Library.
The Ancient Library vs. the Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina
| Feature | Ancient Library | Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Structured to be a part of the Mouseion complex, and styled to be classic Hellenistic Greek | Has a Modern design and a circular exterior with an enormous reading room. |
| Purpose | To be a universal library and a research institute. | To be a centre of ancient and digital knowledge. |
| Established | Early 3rd Century BCE (c. 283 BCE) | Inaugurated in October 2002 |
As for the Library’s location, it overlooked vast streets lined with monuments, including obelisks and sphinxes.
The Library consisted of three buildings:
- The mother library, “Al-Musion,” is the museum and is the main library building.
- Serapeum: was a place dedicated to gods and worship, headed by the god Serapis.
- The additional annex was located in the port and was used to store books.
The Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina Today (2002–Present)
The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built as a revival of the ancient Library, and today it stands as one of Egypt’s most important cultural and research institutions. The Library is ten floors tall, and all the lower levels are below the water’s surface. The body of the building sinks into the ground to protect its precious contents from external factors. The Library has many reading halls as its prominent feature, with 2500 reading sections leading to seven balconies, and books are stored below the balconies to facilitate access.
Library of Alexandria-interior view.
The Library’s building took a long time, as archaeological research began in 1992, and it was impossible to determine any traces of the old Library. In May 1995, construction of the Library’s Neighbour’s Wall began, and the Library was inaugurated in October 2002; the new Library of Alexandrina took responsibility for dedicating all its efforts to reviving the spirit of the original Library.
At its opening, the Library contained a collection of 200,000 books. The collections were revised and expanded, and there was a special multimedia group for children and youth, as well as electronic resources, with more than 25.000 electronic magazines and about 20.000 e-books.
The idea of reviving the Library was put forward in the late 1980s, when UNESCO called for contributions to its revival. The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak immediately established the General Authority of the Library of Alexandria, which held an international competition to design the Library. The Library awarded its first prize to Snohetta for architectural designs based in Oslo, Norway, and the design of the new Library includes four underground levels and six upper floors from the highest point of the steep circular surface.
A celestial dome and science museum have been built to complete a modern architectural masterpiece on the Mediterranean coast.
Visiting the Modern Library of Alexandria
The modern Library of Alexandria is a huge cultural complex that includes galleries, museums, and a planetarium. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit:
Opening Hours
Reading Halls: Sunday–Thursday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Closed on Friday.
Museums & Planetarium Science Center: Sunday–Thursday: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Closed on Friday.
Children’s, YP & Taha Hussein Libraries: Sunday–Thursday: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (except Taha Hussein Library).
Closed on Friday.
Tickets – Main Library
| Visitor Category | Price (EGP) |
|---|---|
| Students (Schools, Universities) | 20 |
| Adults | 150 |
| Senior Citizens (60+) | 150 |
| Special Needs & Taha Hussein Library | Free |
Inclusive tickets for the Main Library, the Antiquities Museum, and the Manuscripts Museum.
Inclusive Tickets
| Visitor Category | Price (EGP) |
|---|---|
| Students (Schools, Universities) | 120 |
| Adults | 300 |
| Senior Citizens (60+) | 300 |
Individual Museum Tickets
| Museum & Category | Price (EGP) |
|---|---|
| Antiquities Museum – Students | 50 |
| Antiquities Museum – Adults/Seniors | 100 |
| Manuscripts Museum – Students | 30 |
| Manuscripts Museum – Adults/Seniors | 60 |
| History of Science Museum – Students | 50 |
| History of Science Museum – Adults/Seniors | 50 |
We recommend choosing the inclusive ticket — it offers the best value and lets you explore all museums without purchasing separate tickets. You can also book Alexandria Library Tours with ETG.
Travel Tip 🧭
If you’re planning to visit the Alexandria Library, try to book a guided tour.
Instead of booking your tour at the front desk upon arrival, try booking online; it saves you a lot of time.
Please don’t bring any food or beverages; they’re not allowed in the Library.
For a smoother experience around Alexandria, explore more ideas and guides inside our Egypt Travel Blog.
Conclusion: A New Dawn for Ancient Knowledge
The Library of Alexandria remains one of the most iconic symbols of human knowledge—whether in its ancient form or today as the magnificent Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
Its modern revival, led by UNESCO and the Egyptian government, represents a remarkable achievement that bridges thousands of years of learning, scholarship, and cultural heritage.
If you are visiting Alexandria, don’t miss the chance to stand where great scholars once worked, explore inspiring collections, and witness how ancient wisdom continues to shape modern knowledge.
Plan Your Egypt Journey
If the Library of Alexandria inspires you to explore more of Egypt’s history, check our Egypt Tour Packages, browse cultural Day Tours, Or create your own itinerary with a Tailor-Made Trip.
FAQs – The Alexandria Library
What happened to the ancient Library of Alexandria?
The ancient Library was destroyed over several centuries through fires, wars, and religious conflicts — not a single event. Major damage occurred during Julius Caesar’s siege (48 BCE), civil wars in the 3rd century AD, and the destruction of the Serapeum in 391 AD.
Who burned the Library of Alexandria?
Historians disagree on the exact cause. The main theories involve Julius Caesar’s accidental fire, Christian decrees under Theodosius I, and later destruction attributed to Amr Ibn Al-Aas. The true cause remains uncertain.
How many books did the ancient Library contain?
Estimates suggest the Library held between 200,000 and 700,000 scrolls covering science, mathematics, philosophy, and world literature — making it one of the largest knowledge centers in the ancient world.
Is the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina the same as the ancient one?
No — the modern library, opened in 2002, is a new cultural and educational institution built to revive the spirit of the ancient library, not a reconstruction of the original building.
Can you visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina today?
Yes — the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is open to visitors, offering guided tours, museums, exhibitions, reading halls, and cultural events throughout the week.
