The author provides a detailed study of sources in an attempt to show what we can know about the Library of Alexandria. Its beginning seems to coincide with the Ptolemies, after the death of Alexander the Great. Its end is unknown; it might have occurred in the 1st century BC.
During those nearly two hundred years, there was a strong desire to gather all the knowledge of the time. They thought that between 500,000 and 700,000 papyrus scrolls would be enough; in practice, they never reached that number. They sought out scholars and administrators to achieve that goal and devoted money and effort to reaching it.
Ships docking in the port were inspected; papyri were confiscated until copies were made. This led to forgery and the sale of copied texts as originals, based on those found in other cities. Even when Egypt prohibited the sale of papyri to Pergamon, they began to use parchment instead — more expensive but more durable. There was rivalry between the libraries of both cities.
They gathered seventy-two Jewish scholars to translate the Bible into Greek, and Greek scholars to preserve the abundant Greek sources. The end of the Library of Alexandria may have been caused by a fire, as happened with others. The idea that Julius Caesar set fire to the city’s port during a battle, and that it spread to part of the city, is only conjecture. The fact that Cicero says nothing about it suggests little credibility for that version.
Since the sources consulted are not conclusive about the process of formation or the amount of material collected, this information is subject to change if more reliable sources are discovered. It seems certain that the library existed, but precise data are lacking regarding the size of its holdings, as well as the cause and date of its disappearance.
Because of its subject matter, the book may be of greater interest to those already fascinated by the topic.