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What Was the Ancient Library of Alexandria?
The Library of Alexandria was built in the third century BC when Ptolemy II ruled. Imagine it as the "Google of ancient civilization." There, writers, scientists, and philosophers from various civilizations went to exchange ideas.
The library will hold somewhere between 400,000 and 700,000 scrolls, all dedicated to the nine Muses. Imagine the jaw-dropping walk through text-lined corridors containing writings of Herodotus, Plato, Homer, and Socrates.
That everyone who visited placed a copy of what they did added to its uniqueness. This united the two Greek and Egyptian cultures into one facility and turned the library into a place of knowledge.

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Who Built the Ancient Library of Alexandria?
The idea of the library is commonly credited to Ptolemy I Soter, the general who claimed Egypt when Alexander the Great died. Some even state that Alexander himself had planned it before he died.
Later, Ptolemy II enlarged the work and helped establish Alexandria as the Mediterranean's cultural center.
And the best thing about it, it was not for the elite only. It was the first state library to be publicly funded, so knowledge was being shared on a scale that the world was not accustomed to.

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How Was the Ancient Library of Alexandria Destroyed?
This is one of history’s saddest mysteries. The library’s destruction is still debated, but most historians agree the first big blow happened in 48 BC when Julius Caesar’s soldiers set fire to ships in the harbor. The flames consumed the library and reduced thousands of scrolls to ashes.
Later, other fires, abandonment, and even earthquakes between the 11th and 14th centuries cut short the rest. We may never know for certain what occurred, but this we do know the world lost invaluable knowledge that could have changed history.

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What Is the Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
In the present era, with UNESCO's assistance, the Library of Alexandria reopened on October 16, 2002. It was Designed by the Norwegian firm Snohetta, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina architecture symbolizes the universality of knowledge, with walls engraved in 120 languages.
The building's walls are engraved with lettering in 120 languages, giving it the appearance of a gigantic slanted sun disk and demonstrating that knowledge is a universal possession.
The library can now hold more than 8 million books. But it’s not just a place to read it has six specialized libraries, three museums, art galleries, a planetarium, and a huge conference center. It is a true revival of Alexandria’s role as a city of learning.

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What Does the Modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina Contain?
Libraries and Reading Rooms
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is not just a library, it’s a whole world of knowledge under one roof. The main reading hall alone stretches across 20,000 square meters, big enough to hold millions of books. Then there are the smaller, specialized libraries: one for children, another for young adults, one for rare books, and even a library for the visually impaired named after Taha Hussein. There’s also a library for arts and multimedia, plus a microforms section. What makes it even more special is that it was the world’s very first digital library, making ancient manuscripts and resources accessible to people everywhere.
Museums Inside the Library
Walking inside, you will find more than books. The library also houses fascinating museums, each one opening a different door to history and culture.

• Antiquities Museum

This was the world's first archaeology museum to be built inside a library, which opened in 2001. It takes you on a journey through Egypt's history, from the Pharaonic to the Byzantine era. You'll see over a thousand objects ranging from statues and coins to ceramics and things of everyday use. Among the peaks is the treasure house of artifacts recovered from the drowned cities of Alexandria's Eastern Harbor, direct link with the city's golden past under water. Each one of them is marked in Arabic, English, and French, so that visitors from all over can connect easily.

• Manuscript Museum

If you’re drawn to rare books and maps, this museum will feel like a hidden gem. Since opening in 2001, it has gathered over 6,000 rare items, along with a massive microfilm archive of 30,000 manuscripts and 50,000 documents. The collections have been divided into three large categories: the Rare Collections with original manuscripts and ancient writings, the Microfilm Archive for digitally preserving texts from across the globe, and the Museographic Display with permanent and traveling exhibitions. Apart from the collections exhibited, the museum also trains potential specialists in restoration and preservation, so this knowledge is sustained over generations.

• Sadat Museum

This museum feels very personal. Dedicated to the late president Anwar El-Sadat, it gives visitors a glimpse into his life beyond politics. You can see his Nobel Peace Prize medal, his handwritten letters, photos, speeches, and even a recording of him reciting the Qur’an. Perhaps the most moving exhibit is his bloodstained military uniform from the day of his assassination in 1981. Walking through this museum feels like meeting both the leader and the man behind the leader.

• Other Highlights

The library complex doesn’t stop there. There’s a huge conference center that regularly hosts cultural and academic events. A planetarium brings the mysteries of space and astronomy closer to the public. And the art galleries, with their rotating exhibitions, showcase creativity from Egypt and all over the world.

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Why Is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Important Today?
Now Bibliotheca Alexandrina alexandria egypt is the largest and most contemporary library in the world and It is not just a question of books it is a cultural bridge that links education, science, and art.
In 2010, France donated 500,000 books and emerged as the world's sixth-largest Francophone library collection. For Egypt and the Middle East, this is not just a library, it is a badge of pride and the reissance of the mission to share knowledge beyond borders.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina tickets are affordable, and they give you access not only to the main library but also the museums and the exhibitions. If you are someone who loves history, or art, or science or if you simply wonder, it is a place you must go to in Alexandria.

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Why Should I Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt?
The bibliotheca alexandrina library is not just another library. It is a living monument that connects the spirit of the ancient Great Library with the present day. From its massive book halls to its fascinating museums, it is a place where history and modern culture meet.
Don’t just read about it in textbooks go experience it yourself. Book your trip today with STEP TO EGYPT and see the Bibliotheca Alexandria Egypt with your own eyes.

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina opened in 2002 on the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria, which stood more than two thousand years ago. The old library was one of the greatest centers of knowledge in history but was eventually lost. The new library was built to bring back that spirit of learning. Today, it is a modern center with millions of books, museums, and research spaces that connect the past with the future.