History of the LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA: Wikipedia of the ancient world. Ancient Egypt. History Calling
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2021
- The history of the LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA is one of the great examples of the lost knowledge of the ancient world. It’s not just the Library’s contents which are gone however, even reliable details of the history of the Library itself are few and far between. In this week’s History Calling video, we try to separate fact from fiction and establish what we actually know about this famous fount of knowledge.
Founded by either King Ptolomy I Sotor, or his son, Ptolemy II Philadelphos in around 300 BC, the Library was designed to bring together all the known books at the time, making it the Wikipedia of the ancient world. Estimates of its holdings range from 40,000 books (or scrolls) to 700,000, but some modern historians have sounded a word of caution about these numbers, asking how many books could even have existed between the fourth and second centuries AD? Whatever the true number, the Library was certainly a huge and an impressive accomplishment by the standards of the day. It attracted a number of famous scholars to the city including Eratosthenes, famous for calculating the circumference of the world to within a few miles (so if you’re wondering, ‘Did the ancients think the world was flat?’ the answer is no, or at least some of them knew better). When and how exactly the story of the Library of Alexandria came to an end is unclear. Some sources suggest it was destroyed by fire by Julius Caesar, however evidence of its continuing existence over 130 years later indicates otherwise. Others argue that it endured a gradual decline over many decades, even centuries, as its contents became worn and damaged through age and insect and rodent activity.
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Do you think the Library of Alexandria was as impressive as some ancient sources have claimed and/or how do you think it was destroyed? Remember to SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS switched on so you never miss an upload and check out my PATREON site for extra perks at www.patreon.com/historycalling
Can I just say, I think your channel fucking rocks! Apologies for the expletives, but honestly, I've never know an independent history channel to be so accurate, concise, well scripted, eloquently and when appropriate, humorously delivered. Just wondrous, truly! ❤️ 😊
Thank you so much. I hope you continue to enjoy the videos 😀
"Impressive," in my opinion, is a matter of comparison and time. By today's standards, maybe the Alexandria Library wasn't. But by the standards of the time, it probably was a very impressive place. I believe it was highly unusual to have that amount of written information in one location during this era. Either way, it's a terrible historic tragedy that it was destroyed, whether accidently or on purpose - history has bore out time and again that a lot of leaders were scared of people having too much knowledge. Can you imagine the number of historic locations that were destroyed that we'll never even know about?? 🤯 Ancient history is so fascinating - thank you so much for this great video! 💗
You're welcome and I agree that knowledge is one of those things that many people have been keen to control throughout history. It is indeed sad to think of all that we've lost that we don't even know we once had.
I would term it impressive. The ancient Egyptians were fastidious record keepers. In the library, they would not have had only records of their own history, sciences, and culture, but much information gathered from other civilized peoples of the known world at the time.
Connie H, couldn't have said it better. In the words of a modern day poet, Kool Moe Dee, "knowledge is king."
Having been to Alexandria many moons ago it is gratifying to have a proper analysis of its origins. I would have loved to study there and I'm looking forward to seeing its descendant.
The Great Library of Alexandria has had a quasi mythological status for centuries. That is one of the reasons why we cannot be sure of the details of its foundation or demise. It must have been impressive by the standards of its days, as otherwise it wouldn't have made it to mythological status. I believe the knowledge was gradually lost to a series of events, some of the 'epic' kind, such as Caesar' actions, and most of the less romantic - but probably more realistic - kind, such as lack of funding, absentee administration during power transitions, deterioration of the materials the books were made of.
Whatever the case may be, I treasure the notion of a symbol of universal knowledge achieving such a cult status in history. Usually, such status is the preserve of battles and monarchic feuds.
I know. I wonder if Wikipedia will have that kind of status to future generations, given that it too tries to bring together all the world's knowledge (even if it has flaws)?
To think all the knowledge of the known world at the time was housed in one place and access was free is one that warms my book-loving, learning-loving heart. And I think of all the knowledge lost and it makes me sad. I really agree that a lack of funding to things considered unimportant by those in power contributed to its ruin. The library, the great bastion of human knowledge, innovation, and creativity being lost to time brings tears to my eyes. At the same time, look how far we have come despite that knowledge being lost. Humans are truly incredible beings determined and driven to carry on, constantly trying to solve the next problem.
Wow,
I love this episode! Now I'm a bibliophile, and I mean a bibliophile, I love love books so much I often say I'm a book-a- holic!! LOL, I can't even begin to imagine a library such as this! That fact that it was all hand written and copies were written in like fashion blows my mind! You mentioned the printing press would not be invented until the mid 15th century in what is now Germany.. YES, I believe it was perhaps destroyed over a LONG period of time as you mentioned and perhaps there are or could still be copies or even originals still floating out there somewhere? I get goose bumps just thinking about things such as these, this is the kind if stuff that keeps me up at night! Haha, but yeah I have always thought it would be so cool for you to do a vid on medieval manuscripts? Like a series covering all things written throughout history, books especially and maybe the development of writing and maybe how books and writing everything else has morphed into its present day never ending March through time.... Yes, writing and books I think are here to stay, or so let us hope.... But yeah I think some vids about said topics would be bangin! As always thanks so much for your hard and scholarly work you put into your content! Perhaps there still is "hope for us all"!?
She's the only person on the planet that can make me watch a video about a library on a Saturday night. It's like witchcraft. ;-)
I think this is one of my favourite responses on a video to date! Thank you. You made me laugh out loud 😀 As for witchcraft, maybe on Halloween! 🙂
@@HistoryCalling Speaking of... I hope you're planning something evil for us that week. Despite being a "Christmas Baby" (or maybe because of it) Halloween is actually my favorite holiday. Thanks and have a great week.
I love listening to your videos while on my daily walk. your voice over is pleasant & the topics always interesting. appreciate you making these, keep up the good work :)
Thanks Daisy. I hope the weather where you are is a lot nicer for your walk than the weather where I am at the moment! :-)
I was hesitant to watch this because the thought of losing all that knowledge hurts my soul. 😭 Good job though 😊
Totally interesting! I love ancient history, it brings us back to times we couldn’t imagine, and maybe not want to live in. We can only dream what secrets this structure held within its walls. I also am inthralled with the and every aspect of the Egyptian’s and the Romans. I think I’ve seen every documentary on Egypt over the last 45 years. Any ancient cultures I’m all over it. My daughter and I were lucky enough to be able to witness objects from king Tuts tomb. I felt so little and overwhelmed with the priceless objects I was witnessing and the unimaginable craftsmanship. I was so overwhelmed I actually shed tears. Thank you very much for your videos. It’s such a shame all that information was lost.
Great presentation! I always knew about the Library at Alexandria, but without actually knowing anything about it. Now I do.
Thank You ... from Boston.
You're very welcome :-)
Excellent narrative. Very informative, great details. Looking forward to every new video.
I weep when I think of what we must have lost.
I know. Hopefully much of what was there has filtered down to us anyway though.
Congratulations on another video very well done. I love your honesty about how some sources can be wrong . These topics interest me very much because as I've told you my family is of Greek Egyptian heritage. Thank you for shedding some light on this topic.❤
Really enjoying your content. Keep up the good work. 😊
Remember that numbers were not always literal in those days and were represented by letters which have variable quantities assigned to them. Numbers were often used to assign greatness not a factual number.
I have read that the library contained copies of the Pentateuch and other Old Testament books. It’s interesting to think that these may have been originals, since Ptolemy sent mostly the copied materials back.
I know. I'm sure theologists would give their right hands (metaphorically speaking of course) to get a hold of them.
So excited to watch this when I get off from work!! Such an interesting topic!!
Thank you. Enjoy :-)
Thank you for this interesting and informative video on the Great Library of Alexandria. There have been so many theories on what happened from Roman invasion to cataclysmic events but this was very enlightening.
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. I wish I knew what had happened to it, but I lean towards a gradual decay over the course of several centuries.
Very interesting. Thanks.
Thank you, another interesting video. Just my opinion but the notion of a library has to be our greatest invention. Not sure if if the library would have been as magnificent as it is made out to be. I think it would have withered over time. Different events contributing to it's loss.
Yes, I think so too (about its gradual decline) but I also agree that the concept of a library has to be one of mankind's greatest inventions and it's one we keep coming back to, thus Wikipedia! :-)
Excellent work as always. I would truly enjoy your take about a Alfred The Great. Just a suggestion but you are a true scholar of history and historical facts.
Thank you. I'll bear him in mind :-)
Impressive that people from back then way back then knew earth was round yet we have people today in 2021 that actually think it is flat 🤦♀️
I know. Some people are just idiots and sadly beyond the reason and logic that the rest of the species embraced several hundred years ago. I thought flat earthers were the worst until I stood behind a guy in a queue a few years ago who was earnestly telling his children that Elizabeth II is an alien reptile! I kid you not.
Thank you.
Cool nice story
Thank you 😀
Having just listened for a third time and having given more thought I stand by my original post.
My Coptic Egyptian buddy was angry with me for telling his 20yo nephew of the Coptic monks destroying the library. I asked him to question his priest about it. Days later we met at his cigar shop and he just nodded his head yes and would not address the subject again.
You mention the mid 16th century printing press. Upon Vatican order Tutonic knights broke it up and threw it in the river. The crime?? Gutenberg printing the bible in German..
The flat earth was promoted by the Phoenicians to scare off others that might engage in world trade. It's mind blowing to realise how well traveled they were.
Flat earth was embraced by the RCC as it made us the center of God's universe. The Hindus did have a flat earth carried about by 4 elephants on the backs of 4 turtles if one can believe that they will believe anything. 😀
Hi John. Thank you for watching (3 times as well - you're the best!) and for sharing such interesting info. I was unaware of the Phoenicians' promotion of the flat earth theory. At least that was before easy global travel and satellites though. You have to wonder how modern flat-earthers manage to convince themselves it's true!
@@HistoryCalling I have no idea about current flat earthers other than just looking for attention.
Hypatia is an interesting strong woman to read about. She was mocked for not marrying only saying I'm married to math.
My opinion of religion is stated in Steven Weinberg quotes... Lol 😆
There is a movie in which Sir Anthony Hopkins plays Ptolemy, he actually does kind of look like the face on the coin.
They may've exaggerated, but it certainly would've been impressive for the era, and many years after, even if were only as big as my personal library. (I have been informed that I have a lot, but never in impressed tones, regrettably.)
I think so too. It's all about perspective. Sure, it would look like nothing compared to the British Library, but the BL couldn't have been gathered up in an era before the printing press. I'm sure your library is great. The mere fact that you enough to call it a library is impressive in itself :-)
Well, not truly a library, I was mostly joking. I've probably got some 5 hundred in my book hoard, so lots more than average for around here. And it's very heavy on fantasy and mystery novels.
@@eliscanfield3913 500! Bryan, that's a library! 🙂
So Julius Caesar, insects, gradual neglect and so forth? Sounds plausible. Personally, I think it was every bit as impressive as written. But within the context of the time, not compared to modernity. There is also St. Catherine of Alexandria who was said to frequent the place.
She was removed from the roster, then reinstated so we don't know if she existed. (I prefer thinking she did) Thank you again so much. The library and the hanging gardens are my favorite lost "wonders of the ancient world."
Thanks also for the shout out to The Mummy (Karloff version, naturally)
You're welcome. I might do a video on the 7 wonders of the world (or indeed its lost wonders) as well :-)
magnificent!
Thank you :-)
@@HistoryCalling certainly!!!💜 📚
There is DVD, I rented some years ago of the time mentioned 270AD here. It is historial based. The daughter of a Palace official had a Love for the library( a woman) and leasing when the library was destroyed again. Good movie, can't rember the name.
Great presentation thank you. I believe this library certainly existed and was present for a very long time. An effort was made by various rulers to keep and update the works. How many? No idea.
Thanks James. Glad you liked it. I think it was around for many hundreds of years too.
Question for you! So is there not even a single copy of a scroll which was in the library left? Surely someone saved some!
Or do we have any texts verified to have been in the library at the time?
No, sadly nothing left. Potentially some were saved back in antiquity, but they're either long gone now, or no longer associated with the library. The texts we know were there include some of the things mentioned in the video, like the works of Sophocles. It's such a shame it was lost :-(
What hurts is that all those hand written scrolls were burned... Can you imagine the hours it took to that.. All that knowledge and time..
I know. It must have taken such a long time to create even one of them. We've no idea today really, given how used we are to be being able to type things up.
I think the destruction of the library(s) probably happened over time. I think the comments by scholars on how wonderful it all was may have been exaggerated. Even saying that, it would have been an amazing collection and its sad it is no longer real. X
Yes, I think so too. It would be amazing to know what it held. I guess that's just another thing to add to my 'what to do if I get a time machine' list. :-)
Hi. Dropped a like but will have to watch later. Looking forward to this. All those soggy books ...... LOL
Thank you. I hope you enjoy it :-)
Thank you
You're welcome :-)
I think there was some sort of library in Alexandria. But impressive by their standards, and impressive by ours probably mean two totally different things. Given the way books were created and the lack of literacy across the known world at the time, 5000 books/scrolls was probably quite a feat. I could see a possibility of a much larger number if documents were included, not just books. I tend to lean towards more then one thing resulting in the downfall of the library. The various fires across the complex destroying scrolls and the changing times and information leading to people not requiring the scrolls housed in the library. If attention shifted to any of the other things going on in the world, less attention, less funding and less discovery missions would mean less use for it.
Thats my opinion anyways
Wow thank you history calling, superb as always, I do think this macnifcent library was vast and full of scrolls on any subject, my view the great library ceased to exit over many centuries. 😊👍
Glad you enjoyed it. I think it was probably a slow decline too.
@@HistoryCalling thank you I always enjoy your content. 👍😊
Imagine the fine for bringing your scroll back late at this library!
Haha! Probably enough at this point to fund the building of an entirely new library :-)
Someone should make an adventure movie in the style of Indiana Jones and National Treasure and The Mummy centered around looking for the lost scrolls...
I think it was magnificent but agree that it might seem hyped nowadays given how accessible the written word and knowledge has become globally; back in its day I’m sure it was only one of a handful of collections of its size in the entire world, thus making it priceless for its day the same way we might think about our space stations but in the same amount of time in between the future will have more of them and they will seem less “special”
Hearing how texts were copied makes me think k of how monks were the only ones who copied religous texts in later centuries.
Yup, you do have to wonder what they missed out or changed, intentionally or not.
Thanks for another entertaining and fact-filled video. I always put aside time to watch your new episodes every Friday. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that as I watched the section on Julius Caesar, I kept flashing on the scene from the overblown bomb "Cleopatra" (1963) in which Elizabeth Taylor rakes Rex Harrison (as Caesar) over the coals (bad pun, sorry) for allowing the library to burn. As a historian, I wonder if you cringe when Hollywood demolishes history. Thank you again.
Thanks Stephen. Sometimes I cringe, sometimes I laugh, sometimes I just roll my eyes :-)
Sweet
Thanks Nathan :-)
I believe that it was destroyed over time, but that some of it wers destroyed by fire. When I worked in Alexandria around 20 years ago, I visited an archeological site. On this site was a cave system, and the guy showing us around told us, that the place was known as "The Little Library" because some of the scrolls were move to this place and stored here because of a fire in the library. But maybe it was a fire in the storage buildings.
Oh wow! I would love to have seen that archaeological site. It sounds fascinating.
@@HistoryCalling It was. Unfortunately it was in the days of (at least for me) film cameras and the day after my return to Denmark, my car was broken into, and my camera bag was stolen, with film still in the camera, and the other exposed, but not yet developed films in my camera bag. So I lost all my pics from the trip, including those from the site, and even worse, the ones I took inside the great pyramid in Giza, which we visited on a weekend trip from Alexandria.
Oh no! That's heart-breaking. I'm so sorry. I'd have been fuming.
@@HistoryCalling I was
I guess I just wonder who would have actually had access to this library? It was a society rigidly divided between the haves and the have nots, so while it may have contained extensive knowledge of the era, to call it the “Wikipedia” of the ancient world seems a bit of a stretch. What were the literacy rates? It would seem to be more like an exclusive country club than a public library.
The lose of this library and its stored knowledge is just 😭😭😭😭
Imagine if all human knowledge was known and nothing was ever lost.
I want to believe it was that grand. But I doubt it was. Still a lot of effort appears to have been put into it so it is likely is was the largest or one of the largest libraries known at that time.
Yes, I think it was amazing by the standards of the day too, but would now be dwarfed by even a reasonably well stocked university library. Still, there are many more books nowadays to have in a library. It probably had much, even most, of what had been written in the western world at the time.
Very interesting. My compliments. I thought the destruction of the Library was all at once. Had no idea there were three distinct sites I blamed it on the early Christians. Is that completely false? Maybe the Christians are responsible for one of the many fires? Thanks.
I have no idea how many texts were in the library, nor how many were lost and when, but it obviously represents a major loss of knowledge and lore from the ancient world.
Yes, it's a real shame to think about what was lost, but fingers crossed a lot of it existed elsewhere and has made its way down to the modern era through other means.
Thank God! Too many grim subjects lately!
Haha, I didn't think the Amber Room was that grim, but each to their own I guess.
@@HistoryCalling OK.... Not that one. Just all the others..... :)
Question, is it possible to get a video with factual information about Catherine The Great? A lot of sources are full of hyperbole.
I was taught in college the Arabs destroyed the library during the Arab invasions. Since then, I have come to understand that, it was the early Christians who did away with much of the material as pagan. Much of what was there was contrary to Christian teachings and beliefs. Christianity was the new religion and the early church fathers didn't want competition from the old faiths. The buildings apparently were destroyed in part by the Christians and later in total by the Arabs. By that time, the library has functionally ceased to exist.
It existed. Can you imagine if some documents survived?
I know. It would be amazing :-)
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hmmm...that's pretty similar to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel...
Teacher please watch The Great Library at Alexandria by Carl Sagan 22:40 long. Hang in for the last 7 minutes.
Cyril wanted a proff argument for the Trinity, Hypatia provided it. Cyril lied to the Coptic Pope that he wrote it... Cyril was made Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria. Cyril sometime later has his monks kill Hypatia by skinning her alive with sharpened sea shells. Not that long after the killing several hundred monks burn the library. The small Sister library in the rear servived.
Off Topic. Consider the burning of the Julian library in Rome several hundred years later by order of the Catholic Pope at the time.
Then the great minds of all religions or none head to Baghdad and there is a great blossoming of books and science. About 1100ad the head Mulah puts an end to it as it challenges Allah. No burning but the great minds are run off leaving the treasure behind for Islam to claim.. Not saying there were not great Arab minds.
A bit much off the top of my head.
🍎 for Teacher. (We learn best by teaching)
Ahh! Another rare gem uncovered. Excellent. Didn't see this in your back catalog. I'm probably confused but I thought the remaining library was burned by misguided zealous christians who murdered Hepatia (maybe spelled wrong, lady scholar, teacher and mathematician) at the same time.
I really enjoy these topics of history more than the Tudor stuff, but I know I'm in the minority. Thanks for reposting. Lvya much
I was sitting in the main reading room in Princeton and a librarian was giving a tour to distinguished possible donors. She told them Princeton had 12,500,000 books. "She's lying," l said to myself. But in fact Columbia, Princeton and the New York Public Library have pooled their research collections now totalling 12.5 million books. Better get reading.
🕊🌎🕊🕊sharing🫂thankYOU
Too bad the Librarian couldn't do for Alexandria what he did for Ephebe. Ook.
What about Hypatia, who was chief librarian of the library and taught there and at the museo? What of the lost works of science and literature? Carl Sagan gives an excellent telling of the story in Cosmos. Robotics, parabolic curves, the best works of tge three Greek writers were also lost! Untold knowledge was lost! You didn't mention any of this or the vast profound importance of the library. It was a private library NOT a public library, which is the main reason that it and it's contents were destroyed and lost to ALL humankind. You failed to mention the colossal tragedy. History often fails to deal with the reasons why history exists and is important in the first place!
"Wikipedia of the ancient world" 🤣🤣🤣
And I think I may be an autodidactic polymath. Not sure, Allah knows best.