The Most Significant Ancient Libraries in History

Ancient Libraries in History

The invention of the book ushered in a new age of literacy, and ultimately a new age of enlightenment. With this one simple invention, the world was forever changed and a whole new era of human endeavor opened up. Those early books were much more than bound pieces of paper, they were truly sacred objects, and their relative rarity made them valuable beyond measure.

It was only fitting, therefore, that these priceless books were housed in vast libraries. These temples to leaming and literacy housed thousands of volumes, representing the vast knowledge of the human race and giving generations a way to share what they had learned and pass it on to subsequent donation best and rarest volumes, these ancient libraries were truly wondered to behold.

Some of these ancient libraries became household names, while others are less well known. But no matter what their status, these historical libraries contributed greatly to human knowledge and to civilization as a whole.

The Library of Alexandria

Arguably the most famous library in history, the Library at Alexandria is a symbol of human knowledge, and of the downfall of civilization. This most famous of ancient libraries was witness to one of the most significant turning points in ancient history, and modern scholars and academicians still lament the enormous loss of knowledge that happened here.

The Library of Alexandria was named for Alexander the Great, but its construction actually took place after Alexander's death in 323 B.C. At that time, Ptolemy Soter, a former general in Alexander's army, took over control of Egypt. He then embarked on a mission to tum the city of Alexandria into a center of learning, and the Library of Alexandria was the result of that dream.

During its peak, the Library of Alexandria housed more than half a million papyrus scrolls, representing the epitome of law, mathematics, science and history. The presence of so much knowledge under one roof meant that scholars from throughout the region flocked to the library, making it a true center of learning in the civilized world.

The Library of Alexandria was also the site of one of the most famous fires in world history. That conflagration took place in 48 B.C., when the library was accidentally set ablaze. The accidental fire started when Julius Caesar was battling Ptolemy for control of Alexander's harbor. The fire did extensive damage to the library, but the institution continued to function for many years afterward. Scholars disagree on the date of its ultimate demise, but one thing is sure: the loss of knowledge when the Library of Alexandria was destroyed is unprecedented in human history.

The Library of Pergamum

The Library of Pergamum was built in the third century of B.C., and it was constructed by the Attalid dynasty. Located in what is now modem-day Turkey, the Library Pergamum once housed a veritable treasure trove consisting of some 200,000 scrolls. The Library of Pergamum was located in an elaborate temple complex devoted to the goddess Athena.

Fittingly, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, but the library had secular as well as religious significance. The library is thought to have contained four rooms, three of which housed the library and its scrolls, with the fourth reserved as a meeting space. The Libraries of Trajan's Forum The Roman Empire was noted for its literature and its dedication to learning, and the city of Rome was home to some of the most impressive libraries in the ancient world.

Arguably the most important of those Roman libraries were the Libraries of Trajan's Forum. Built sometime around 112 A.D. by the Emperor Trajan, this extensive network of libraries was housed in a sprawling complex in the heart of the city. While the libraries and the scrolls they housed were the highlight, the Libraries of Trajan's Forum were truly multi-use affairs.

The complete Forum complex included not only the libraries but also temples, marketplaces, and much more. There was a separate structure for works in Latin and a second for works in Greek, and the entire thing was set by a portico that housed the amazing Trajan's Column. This imposing structure was designed to honor the emperor and his many military victories, and it must have been quite a sight.