Explore 8 legendary libraries of the ancient world—from Alexandria to Baghdad—that preserved history, knowledge, and culture for generations to come.
The libraries of ancient civilization were the world’s first taste of knowledge and historical preservation. Serving as legacy makers for the leaders who funded them, they were grand buildings with an investment in education and scholarship. The libraries on this list housed sacred texts, literature, and archives of some of the greatest empires in ancient history. Journey with us as we explore the history behind these historic landmarks.
1. The Library of Alexandria
Perhaps the most famous of the libraries on our list, the Library of Alexandria was the crown jewel of education in the ancient world. The library was built on the grounds of the Royal Palace in Alexandria, Egypt, by Ptolemy I Soter in 323 B.C. Scholars and leaders from around the world were invited to donate to the collection.
The library was destroyed in 28 B.C., so little is known about the full extent of the collection, but scholars believe the library likely housed between 20,000 – 200,000 works of humanitarian works like literature, art, and philosophy at its height of operation.
2. The Library of Celsus
Built in 120 A.D. by Gaius Julius Aquila to honor his father, Roman consul Tiberius Julius Celsus, the Library of Celsus served as both a library and a tomb for Celsus. It was built in the heart of Ephesus, a social hub and the fourth largest city of the Roman Empire. The library is believed to be the home of 12,000 works and is considered one of the largest libraries in the ancient world. The library still stands in modern-day Turkey.
3. The Library of Pergamum
Rumor has it that the rulers of Pergamum, the bustling Greek city, built the Library of Pergamum in an effort to rival Alexandria. The true extent of the rivalry is unknown, but the grandeur of the library cannot be understated. It is believed to have stored an archive of 200,000 works of varying subject matter, like science, art, literature, and history.
The Pergamum Library is also associated with the invention of parchment, though the theory has not yet been fully verified.
4. The Library of Ashurbanipal
The Library of Ashurbanipal is the oldest known library in the world. Named after the Assyrian king credited with its construction in the seventh century B.C., the site contained an abundance of Mesopotamian history.
The library was forgotten for thousands of years until a collection of 30,000 clay tablets was discovered in Nineveh (now northern Iraq) over a series of archaeological digs in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The tablets are some of the best evidence of Mesopotamian civilization that we have today.
5. Imperial Library of Constantinople
Byzantine Emperor Constantius II founded the Imperial Library of Constantinople in an effort to preserve ancient texts by switching them from their deteriorating papyrus to parchment. Though the library is believed to have been one of the largest in ancient history, very little is known about the contents.
The library collection is speculated to have held over 100,000 volumes, and it is likely that many of the surviving texts from the destruction of the Library of Alexandria were brought to the Imperial Library of Constantinople. The library operated for more than 1,000 years before being destroyed by crusaders in 1204.
6. Villa of the Papyri
The antiquarian library in the Roman city of Herculaneum was home to nearly 1,800 scrolls. During the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. , the library was covered by nearly 90 feet of volcanic material. The volcanic ash perfectly preserved the library and allowed its excavation in 1750. Thanks to this natural preservation, the library still stands today.
7. The Library of Nalanda
Considered to be the first residential university, the ancient school of Nalanda operated for more than 700 years. Over that time, it saw more than 10,000 students who studied everything from medicine to art and philosophy alongside Buddhist principles. Founded during the Gupta empire, famously known for their Hindu beliefs, Nalanda was home to more than 9 million books and is credited with the preservation of Buddhist principles that are still practiced today.
8. The House of Wisdom
Also known as the Grand Library of Baghdad, the House of Wisdom was known as one of the epicenters of learning during the Islamic Golden Age. The library was first established in the 9th century A.D. and flourished as a hub for scholars until its destruction in the mid-13th century. The House of Wisdom hosted a vast collection of books covering subjects ranging from medicine and astronomy to philosophy and religion.
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Carley Bishop
Carley is an editorial lifestyle writer and aspiring novelist. She is based in North Carolina where she resides with her husband and their puppy, Daisy, and is a proud graduate of University of South Carolina. Carley is a lifelong bookworm who enjoys reading everything from the classics to modern romances. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling, getting outside and trying new recipes at home.
