The Royal Library
The Royal Library of Alexandria was one of the largest scholarly institutions ever built, containing thousands of scrolls and texts from the greatest thinkers of ancient times. However, its quick disappearance from history has led many to believe that it was destroyed in a fire, possibly at the orders of Julius Caesar when he attacked Egypt. Recent evidence unovered by Luciano Canfora, in the form of scrolls written by people working in the library, reveal that it was actually brought down due to budget cuts from the government rather than a dramatic event. Texts gradually fell apart or were given to other institutions, and what was left of the Library’s collection was likely destroyed in 642.