The Burning of the Library of Alexandria By The Numbers

Hundreds of years, thousands of scrolls, numerous misconceptions

Plate depiction of the library functioning at its peak (Public domain)

The Great Library of Alexandria was one of the greatest depositories of human knowledge ever devised. It was embedded within the ancient Mouseion, a famous center for learning and the arts founded by the Ptolemaic Empire. Beginning with Ptolemy I Soter, the Egyptian successor state invested heavily in knowledge and the arts. Numerous emperors, philosophers, and scholars made steep monetary donations to the collection and preservation of knowledge within the walls of the Great Library.

At its height, it was a spectacle.

That is why, when it was eventually destroyed, it was seen as a great human tragedy.

How much knowledge was actually lost in the library? Who destroyed it? How many years did it function?

This is the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria, by the numbers.

Years in operation: ~900

The Great Library of Alexandria was built and opened by Ptolemy I Soter sometime around the year 260BCE. While the city of Alexandria went through numerous ups and downs over the centuries the library remained a staple of the city throughout many periods. The library passed from…