The Ancient Library at Alexandria: Embracing the Excellent, Avoiding its Fate

摘要

In the year 331 BC, Alexander the Great stood with some of his advisors in the small Egyptian fishing village of Rhakotis on the Nile delta. Here Alexander decided to found a new city and name it after his favorite person, himself. Those with him had no chalk to sketch the borders and roads, so they trailed a thin line of barley flour from sacks. When birds descended from everywhere to consume the meal, Alexander thought this was a bad omen. Not so, his advisors said. Like the flour to the birds, they prophesied, Alexandria will one day attract many and be a feeder and nurse to the world. And they were correct.