By Demetre Kiayas
Anyone who wants to describe the history of Alexandria and its famous
Library cannot dispense with recounting at least certain aspects of the life
of a gifted individual who was Alexander the Great.
How it all started
Alexander was born in the first year of the 106th Olympiad corresponding to
356 before our era. At that time the years were counted according to the
Olympiads (Olympic Games), starting from the first Olympiad in the year 776
before our era.
His father was Philip II, king of Macedonia, Northern Greece, and his mother
Olympias, daughter of Neoptolemus, king of Epirus, northwest Greece.
Alexander inherited his father's intelligence, countries and bravery and his
mother's lack of sense of modesty. However, when as a teenager, his father
appointed the 40-year old philosopher Aristotle to educate his son,
Alexander, under the influence of his illustrious teacher, became more
intellectual and an avid reader.
Alexander's reign
Alexander was barely 20 years when in 336 before our era, he succeeded his
assassinated father. Alexander remained on the throne for 12 years until his
own death. Before setting off to conquer Asia he went to Delphi wishing to
have the support of the Delphic Oracle for the campaign he was preparing.
Pythia, the Priestess, refused to deliver an oracle considering the day as
one of ill omen. But the hot-tempered young Alexander would not take "no" as
an answer. He entered the Temple and pulled the Priestess down from her
tripod demanding an oracle. The Priestess was terrified and simply
muttered:
"Alexander, you are invincible." This was enough for Alexander who
immediately went out and announced the "oracle" to his army. Indeed,
Alexander was never beaten in the dozens of battles he fought, an
achievement never equalled until today.
Another event showing, this time, his boastful side and at the same time the
magnanimity of his character was when he went to Corinth, in southern
Greece, where he met the famous cynic philosopher Diogenes. It was a chilly
day and the 80-year old philosopher was enjoying the warmth of the sun.
Alexander stood in front of him and said he was ready to offer him anything
he would desire. Diogenes replied: "Before you offer anything, please do not
deprive me of something you cannot offer me" and added: "You are standing in
my sunlight. move over a bit." Alexander was so much impressed by his reply
that he said: "Had I not been Alexander, I would have liked to be
Diogenes."
Alexandria and its library
Alexandria acquired immeasurable wealth and treasures and enjoyed a long era
of prosperity, productivity and luxury.
When, after Alexander's death, his empire was dismembered by his Generals
who became kings of a multitude of independent kingdoms, a strong rivalry
commenced among them. Everyone wanted his kingdom to be the best, to excel
in military strength and shine in culture. The most remarkable kingdoms were
those of Seleukides in Syria, Attalides in Pergamus and above all the
kingdom of Ptolemies in Egypt.
The first king of the Ptolemies dynasty was Ptolemy I, named Soter (323-284)
who was succeeded by his son Ptolemy II, named Philadelphus
(285-246).
There is contradictory information about the time of the foundation of the
Library, but the majority of the historians tend to accept that it was
founded during the reign of Ptolemy I, Soter. It was Demetrius of Phalerum,
an Athenian politician and a prolific author, who inspired the king to
establish "a big Centre of Scientific Researches".
The Centre became well-known under the name "Mouseion" (Museum). This word
means a "Cult Centre for the worship of the Muses". The Muses were nine
divinities who protected and encouraged the arts, sciences, literature and
music. Demetrius of Phalerum also suggested to set up a universal Library
affiliated to the "Mouseion". This idea was welcomed by Ptolemy I who wanted
Alexandria to become not only the Capital of a strong Kingdom but also the
cradle of new sciences and culture.
Initially only the "Mouseion" became famous attracting scientists and
philosophers from all the parts of the world. It was the first State
Research Centre for Theoretical and Applied Sciences that the world had
known. It combined teaching and research and was imitated by the
universities which came into existence during the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance. The achievements were tremendous. The list of those who taught
or worked in the "Mouseion" is long but it is worth mentioning at least the
name of Euclid, the father of Geometry, who wrote the first book on geometry
around the year 300 before our era.
The Library was located near the "Mouseion", inside the royal quarters next
to the port. Later on, when the number of the books (actually "rolls")
increased considerably, a second Library was built in the south of the town
quite far from the royal palace. This second Library was never mentioned as
a separate Library until the 15th century of our era. Everybody used to
speak and write about "The Big Library", "The Royal Library" or simply "The
Libraries" (In this article "Library" means both of them).
At that time, the Library of Alexandria was not the only one. There were
many libraries in various cities outside Egypt but the Library of Alexandria
was the best organized and had the biggest number of books or "rolls". The
reason of this immense success was the zealous efforts of the Ptolemies to
collect the "books" which were "published" in every part of the world. At a
certain moment the Library contained 532.800 "books" according to Tzetzes, a
medieval author, who based this information on an ancient source.
Gallimacus, a contemporary historian, explained the main method of the
"books" classification: Rhetoric, Law, Epic Poetry, Tragedy, Comedy, Lyric
Poetry, History, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences and Various. Under
each topic the authors were listed in alphabetical order and every name was
followed by a short biography and a critical text of the author's writings.
This system was followed by all subsequent libraries up to the Middle Ages.
This is confirmed by the Arab "Al Fihrist" or Index of Ibn Al-Nadim of 10th
century.
The establishment of the "Mouseion" and the Library rang in a new era for
the mankind. Surely, in the domains of literature, theatre and philosophy,
the peaks had already been attained and it was difficult to surpass them.
But in other fields such as medicine, geometry, mathematics, physics, and
geography impressive progress was made. It was at that time that the
scientific research really commenced.
Access to the "Big Library" had only been for the members of the "Mouseion"
and high Officers of the State. The second Library, much smaller than the
main Library and known also as "Serapeum", was open for all.
The Scholars of the Library decided how to divide an Author's work into
"books". Long "books" were parcelled out into shorter rolls and the lines
were numbered. The length of each line was 16 or 17 syllables or 36
characters. The "rolls" were made of papyrus or parchment and put into
cylindrical case which were kept on wooden shelves.
The Director of the Library was a royal appointment known as
"Bibliothekarios" (Librarian). It was a very important position and this can
be seen from the fact that the Director of the Library had to educate the
children of the royal family.
It was the Library of Alexandria together with the "Mouseion" which
developed the science of Scholarship, made the book a tool to advance
research and documentation and above all reproduce and disseminate
knowledge.
Unfortunately, the fantastic, almost mythical wealth of Alexandria, led to a
softness and vulnerability that sapped people's morale. They became
obsequious and fawned upon a new conqueror, the Romans.
The destruction of the library
The worst thing happened in the year 48 before our era. The Romans were
fighting to conquer Alexandria in Cleopatra's reign. Julius Caesar set fire
to the Egyptian fleet and the strong northerly winds spread the fire to the
Great Palace, the nearby "Mouseion" and its legendary Library. Both were
burnt to the ground. The loss for the mankind was indescribable.
However, the "books" in the second Library, the Serapeum, were saved. They
were about 42.800 volumes but this number, plus the 200.000 "books" which
the Roman Emperor Anthony transferred from Pergamus to Alexandria 7 years
later, would never amend the losses of Alexandria Library.
The subsequent events, rebellions, wars, and new occupations destroyed what
had remained thus closing the chapter of an illustrious human
achievement.
Will the new Library resuscitate the Glory of its ancestor?
Alexander and Egypt
Alexander reached Egypt towards the end of 332. He sailed by boat to Memphis
where he offered sacrifices to god Apis in the temple of Pytha and later to
god Ammon. It is said that Alexander chose the location to build Alexandria
following the "advice" of his spiritual mentor Homer. According to Plutarch,
Homer appeared to Alexander in his dreams and recited the extract of
"Odyssey" where king Menelaos searched for a refuge on the island of Pharos.
Next day, Alexander visited the place near Canopus and he immediately
decided to build a city. In December 332, Alexander laid the foundation
stone of Alexandria. He was 24 years old. He also laid out the boundaries of
the new city on the soil with his lance giving to the city the shape of the
Greek military cloak (Chlamys). At the same time, he gave orders to
Dinocrates, a planner of cities from Rhodos, to begin sitting the market,
the city walls, and the sanctuaries of the Egyptian and Greek gods.
However, escape from destiny is no easy matter. Alexander was only 32 years
and eight months when, Babylon in Mesopotamia, died on June 13, 323 before
our era. The cause of his death was a high fever, the result of his
indifference towards his own perishable flesh.
After his death, his huge empire broke up, thus proving once more that
History is written by Leaders and not by the masses.
The beginning of the military
campaign
In the spring of 334, Alexander, excellently trained in fighting and morale,
at the head of 30,000 infantry, 5000 cavalry and one month's supplies,
crossed the Hellespont landing on the Dardanian shore and rushed forward to
conquer Asia. It will be too long to narrate details. Only two battles will
be mentioned . Late October in 333 at the river Issus at Cilicia, defeated
the Persians and opened the way to Syria and Egypt. Another decisive battle
was at Gaugamela, in Assyria, where he crushed the main part pf the Persian
army allowing him to reach India and Uzbekistan.
The military campaign lasted 10 years. He covered 120,000 kilometres and was
severely wounded five times. He was welcomed as Liberator. In fact, he
liberated enslaved peoples, and gave justice to the weak. With his
indomitable energy he built more than 70 cities, 20 of which were named
after him. The most famous was Alexandria in Egypt. He built roads, bridges,
factories and harbours. He made the world a safer place allowing trade to
flourish and giving it, for the first time in the History of the mankind, an
international character. The highly erudite Professor Mostafa El-Abadi of
Alexandria University says in his excellent book "Life and Destiny of the
Ancient Library of Alexandria" (UNESCO edition 1990):
"The horizons of the human knowledge were enlarged as it happened later in
the 15th century of our era by the discoveries of new countries and by the
exploration of Space nowadays...One would feel a new spirit, a renaissance,
of the human culture. It was in this spiritual atmosphere that the Library
and the Museum were founded.
