Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Alexandria Landmarks
The history of the Alexandria Library remains a subject of debate among scholars. Some say the Bibliotheca was established during the reign of Ptolemy I, while others believe it was founded by Ptolemy II. Some archaeologists also suggest that the idea of the library dates back to the era of Alexander the Great, 23 centuries ago. Although nothing is confirmed, what is certain is that the great library, also known as the "royal library," was the first and largest public library the ancient world had ever witnessed.
The idea of a library had existed since early antiquity, but these collections were usually reserved for royals and priests. While the Library of Alexandria may not have been the first library in history, it was the first public one for common people, where Pharaonic and Greek cultures came together and Western knowledge combined with Eastern science to produce Hellenistic civilization. Scholars and teachers were required to leave copies of their writings and publications, helping the library become a major research centre and a reference point for anyone seeking awareness and education. The library flourished by housing about 700,000 scrolls of philosophy and poetry, including prominent collections such as Homer and Aristotle, and became an academy for those who sought knowledge free from political affiliations and racism.
Many stories and myths surround the destruction of the ancient Library of Alexandria. Some say Julius Caesar burned 101 ships on the Mediterranean coast during the war with Ptolemy III, the younger brother of Cleopatra, and that this led to a huge fire that destroyed the Bibliotheca in 48 B.C. Other scholars accuse Amr ibn Al-Aas during the Islamic conquest, but there is no evidence for such claims. Nothing is certain.
The idea of reviving the destroyed ancient library was proposed by Alexandria University in 1974 and received positive support from the international community. In 1988, UNESCO sponsored an architectural competition for the best design for Alexandria's new library, which was won by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta. Construction began in 1994 and was completed in 2002 with a budget of $200 million. Today, the library receives about 800,000 visitors annually and aims to be an academy of dialogue and rationality, just like the ancient Bibliotheca. Its interior design is modern and striking, with a 160-metre-diameter glass-panelled roof, while the outer wall is built of Aswan grey granite carved with 120 characters from rare scripts. In addition to the planetarium and the great main reading hall, which covers about 700,000 m² and accommodates 2,000 readers at one time, the library also contains 200 rooms for scholars and researchers. The books shelved in the reading hall have been donated from around the world in different languages and subjects.
The exhibition gallery is located at the heart of the library and covers an area of 344 m2. It includes around 120 manuscripts and rare scrolls displayed in cases. Italy donated 12 display cases under a cooperation agreement between the two countries, while 20 are Egyptian-made. The exhibition gallery also displays two pieces of kiswa, the holy Ka'aba cover. The antiquities museum displays almost 1,100 artifacts and documents dating from the Pharaonic era to Islamic civilization, including the Greek-Roman and early Coptic periods. The library also has a manuscript restoration laboratory, along with two more exhibitions - one for original engravings and lithographs, and another for literary and Egyptian cinematic works.
Continue to Stanley Bridge, a landmark built to improve traffic flow along the Alexandria Corniche.
You will also see the Monument to the Unknown Marine Soldier in the Mansheya area of Alexandria. It was built by the Italian community in Alexandria in 1933 AD to honour Khedive Ismail, with a statue of him placed at the top of the monument. In 1965 AD, it was converted into the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, and the statue of Khedive Ismail was removed.
Back to the hotel.
