The Library of Pergamum

The idea of a universal library proved to be a game-changer. Alexandria inspired other cities to create rival "universal libraries," such as the Library of Pergamum in today's Turkey.

The Great Library's main structure was likely burned in 48BCE when Ptolemy XIII laid a si...

• The ancient world's intellectual jewel was established by general Ptolemy I Soter after Alexander the Great's death in 323 B.C.
• At its peak, it may have included over 500,000 papyrus scrolls containing works of literature and texts on history, law, mathematics, and science.
...

• The library was built in the fourth century A.D. under Constantine the Great but stayed small until the fifth century.
• The collection increased to 120,000 scrolls and codices.
• The Imperial Library size continued to increase and shrink over the following centuries due to n...