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Speculative theory

Library Alexandria BurnAtlas

Historical Events · Ancient history & lost civilizations

The Library of Alexandria was regarded in later tradition as a major ancient repository of learning in Egypt. A later narrative claims that after the Arab conquest, authorities ordered the library’s books destroyed and burned as fuel for public baths over many months.

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Timeline

  1. 300 · eventPtolemaic founding era of Alexandrian library tradition
  2. 391 · eventLate antique assaults on pagan temples including Serapeum tradition
  3. 642 · eventArab conquest of Alexandria in Omar-burning legend
  4. 1200 · first_appearanceMedieval circulation of Caliph Omar library-burning story
  5. 1876 · popularizationHermann Goll painting depicts Alexandria library fire
  6. 2002 · document_releaseBagnall’s Alexandria: Library of Dreams critique published
  7. 2020 · amplificationMainstream features revisit rival destruction theories

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