The Great Library

Alexandria, Egypt was known as a capital of knowledge where many great scholars studied and where the Great Library was located.  The library was dedicated to the Muses, the nine Goddesses of the arts.

It started declining in 145 BC and was partly burned by Julius Caesar in 48 BC, but it still retained a great reputation for many years and probably finally disappeared around 270 AD.

The library created a model for the modern university campus.

Library of Alexandria / O. Von Corven, 19th century. Based partially on the archaeological evidence of the time.