THE LIBRARY
In total there were 3 parts to the Library of Alexandria:
There was the "Musaeum" or Museum (Temple of the Muses), built under the authority of Ptolemy I Soter, and Demetrius, and located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, (in the palace district known as the Brucheion). It functioned not only as a library but also as a place of study with laboratories, lecture areas, observatories, living quarters, botanical gardens and dining halls. However, the exact layout of the library is unknown.
The second part of the library was the "Royal Library", which was established by Ptolemy II, to complement the Museum set up by his father. It is not clear as to where the Royal Library was situated, however the majority of people believe it was connected to the Musaeum. It is said that the Royal Library contained 500,000 scrolls, though this is thought to be too greater number for some scholars, as the storage space would have to be immense, though not impossible to undertake.
The third part of the Library was called the "Daughter Library" and was established because the collection at the Royal Library was so vast that they had to make space for it all. All of this work was done under the reign of Ptolemy II. This Library was situated in the division of the temple Serapis, in the district of Rhakotis, located in the south-eastern part of the city of Alexandria. The Daughter Library contained 42,800 scrolls, all copies of those in the main library.
There was the "Musaeum" or Museum (Temple of the Muses), built under the authority of Ptolemy I Soter, and Demetrius, and located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, (in the palace district known as the Brucheion). It functioned not only as a library but also as a place of study with laboratories, lecture areas, observatories, living quarters, botanical gardens and dining halls. However, the exact layout of the library is unknown.
The second part of the library was the "Royal Library", which was established by Ptolemy II, to complement the Museum set up by his father. It is not clear as to where the Royal Library was situated, however the majority of people believe it was connected to the Musaeum. It is said that the Royal Library contained 500,000 scrolls, though this is thought to be too greater number for some scholars, as the storage space would have to be immense, though not impossible to undertake.
The third part of the Library was called the "Daughter Library" and was established because the collection at the Royal Library was so vast that they had to make space for it all. All of this work was done under the reign of Ptolemy II. This Library was situated in the division of the temple Serapis, in the district of Rhakotis, located in the south-eastern part of the city of Alexandria. The Daughter Library contained 42,800 scrolls, all copies of those in the main library.
