The Library of Alexandria: Centre of Learning in the Ancient World

"The Library of Alexandria explores one of the greatest cultural adornments of the late ancient world. The origins of the 'vanished library' of Alexandria lie in the distant echoes of the great library of Pisistratus in Athens, an institution which set the tone for establishing a dominant culture and inspired Alexander the Great to build a library of his own in his empire's most important city. Thus he expanded his cultural and imperial influence and power throughout the known world. The library contained thousands of scrolls of Greek, Hebrew and Mesopotamian literature as well as art and artefacts from ancient Egypt. Roy MacLeod has here assembled an array of distinguished scholars to bring this great institution - - tragically destroyed at the fall of Alexandria in 643 - - back to life.