The Library of Alexandria is considered one of the most important landmarks in Alexandria. It is located in the Shatby area in Alexandria.
The history of the Library of Alexandria dates back to the Ptolemaic period when King Ptolemy II ordered to establish the Library of Alexandria. It was a destination for all science students in the ancient world. It is said that it contained 700,000 books, as it was necessary for every scientist to leave a copy of his book in the library.
Unfortunately, the old library was destroyed during the war of Queen Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar against King Ptolemy XIII 48 BC. In this war, Julius Caesar ordered to set fire to the ships in the port of Alexandria, and this fire spread to the library and destroyed it completely.
In 2002, the Egyptian government asked UNESCO to rebuild the Old Library of Alexandria. An international competition was held to choose a design for the library, and the Norwegian architectural design firm Snohetta won it.
The library takes an oval shape from the outside, which is a symbol of the continuity of life, as it resembles the sun that emerges from the sea. The library is surrounded by a great wall made of Aswan granite. This wall is decorated with letters and signs in 120 languages.
The library consists of 4 museums:
Archeology Museum: it is the first archaeological museum built inside a library and displays a group of ancient Egyptian antiquities.
The Museum of Manuscripts: it contains the largest collection of digital manuscripts in the world and more than 6000 rare books, maps, and documents.
The Sadat Museum: it includes the personal belongings of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, such as the Nobel Prize medal and the blood-stained military uniform that he wore on the day of his assassination.
The Museum of the History of Science.
In addition to, the library houses six specialized libraries and the Planetarium Science Center.
you can visit the Library of Alexandria with Alexandria Attractions
