Who Burned Alexandria Library According To Historians?

As someone who loves digging into historical mysteries, the burning of the Library of Alexandria is a topic I find endlessly fascinating. Most historians point to Julius Caesar as the culprit during his siege of Alexandria in 48 BCE. His forces set fire to the harbor, and the flames spread to the library, destroying countless priceless scrolls. Some accounts suggest it wasn't intentional, but the damage was massive. Later, other events like conflicts in 272 CE and 391 CE may have caused additional losses. It's heartbreaking to think about all the ancient knowledge lost forever because of these fires.

The Library of Alexandria's destruction is one of history's great tragedies, and pinning it on a single event or person is tricky. The most widely accepted theory involves Julius Caesar in 48 BCE. During his civil war with Pompey, Caesar was trapped in Alexandria and ordered ships burned to prevent their use by enemy forces. The fire got out of control and consumed part of the library. However, some scholars argue the library was already in decline by then and that other incidents contributed more significantly. For example, in 272 CE, Emperor Aurelian's troops caused damage during a revolt. Later, in 391 CE, Christian riots led to the destruction of the Serapeum, a temple that may have housed some of the library's remaining collections. The truth is, the library's downfall was likely a series of unfortunate events over centuries rather than one catastrophic fire.

What makes this especially sad is imagining what was lost. The library was a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, holding works from across the known world. From Greek philosophy to Egyptian astronomy, so much wisdom went up in flames. Even today, historians debate how much was actually destroyed and how much had already been lost to neglect or dispersal. The library's fate serves as a cautionary tale about preserving knowledge and the fragility of human achievement.

I've always been drawn to stories about the Library of Alexandria, and the question of who destroyed it is more complicated than you might think. While Julius Caesar's fire in 48 BCE is the most famous incident, it probably didn't wipe out the entire library. The library was part of a larger research institution called the Mouseion, and it's likely that some collections survived or were moved. Over the centuries, other events like religious conflicts and political upheavals chipped away at what remained. For instance, during the Roman period, funding cuts and decreased interest in scholarship may have led to neglect.

Another theory points to the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, but most modern historians dismiss this as a later myth. The truth is, the library's decline was gradual, with different groups contributing to its demise at different times. It's a reminder of how easily knowledge can be lost when societies don't prioritize preservation. The loss of the library isn't just about burned books; it's about the erosion of a whole culture of learning that took centuries to build.