The Library of Alexandria
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archaeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com slash subscribe. Hey, I hope you're doing well. We're doing all right here. We are getting ready for our tour to Australia in early August. Things are ramping up quick. Really excited to get over there. My first time in Australia for a good decade or so.
And it's really exciting to see that tickets are selling. So we've got the shows lined up. We've got the topics, the labours of Hercules and also the myth, the story of Romulus and Remus, and then delving into what's the historical basis, potentially, for these famous mythological stories of ancient Greece and Rome. Really hope to see you there if you're in either Australia or New Zealand. But back to today's episode, we are delving into the archive to explore the story of one of the greatest educational buildings ever constructed. The Library of Alexandria, this great centre of learning, particularly during the Hellenistic period. So the time when you have these Greek pharaohs, a Greco-Macedonian dynasty ruling over Egypt, the dynasty of the famous Cleopatra and so many others.
Enjoy. Enjoy.
The Library of Alexandria, one of those amazing complexes of the ancient Mediterranean world. More than 2,000 years ago, this was one of the most celebrated buildings of ancient Alexandria, filled with all sorts of literature that helped define this city as one of the greatest centres of knowledge and culture in the Mediterranean. So what's the story behind this great building? Why did Alexandria's rulers, the Ptolemies, become obsessed and fascinated with adding to its collection? And of course, did it really burn down in a massive fire caused by none other than Julius Caesar? How much information was lost? Well, listen on, there are a lot of myths to bust. Now our guest today is Dr. Islam Issa from Birmingham City University.
Islam, he came down to London to do this interview in person in a studio. I had my Ptolemy shirt to hand and we had a lot of fun recording this chat. I really do hope you enjoy. And here's Islam. Islam, it is wonderful to have you on the podcast. I'm really happy to be here and I'm even happier with your t-shirt. Of course, we're talking about Hellenistic history and the city of Alexandria. Of course, we cannot not mention the one and only Ptolemy I. But we're talking about the Great Library and I know it's not one of the official wonders but this feels like one of those incredible monumental pieces of architecture from the Greco-Roman world.
Yeah, I mean one of the issues is we don't know much about how it would have looked We have to assume it was grand. We have to assume that it had these colonnades and statues and marbled pillars. But at the same time, the lighthouse, which was one of the ancient wonders of the world, was also, as far as I'm concerned, symbolic of the light that was emanating from the city as a result of the knowledge that was gathered and disseminated from the great library.
It's interesting how you can connect those two great pillars of ancient Alexandria. Let's focus on the library and set the scene, first of all, with the background. When are we talking with the library's initial construction? What's the context?
Context is Alexander the Great arriving at Pharos, which is the little island that's uninhabited off the Mediterranean coast where he founds Alexandria. That's the mid-4th century BC. Legend has it, and this is an important founding myth for Alexandrians, that he gets down on his knees in excitement and ecstasy and scribbles a plan for the city on the sand. Among the things that he allegedly scribbles on the sand, so we've got all the square, market, temples, the royal palace, we also have a shrine to the Muses.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–6:17
2
What is the significance of the Library of Alexandria in ancient history?
6:17–21:45
3
When was the Library of Alexandria constructed and what was its purpose?
21:45–36:32
4
Who were the Ptolemies and why did they prioritize knowledge acquisition?
36:32–44:19