Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12

The credit for originating the library
is commonly given to Egypt. The first
written library of which there Is any
authentic record was founded by an
Egyptian king in the fourteenth Gen.
tury before Christ, and was known as
1.-The storehouse for medicine for the
mind" An account of this library was
given by Diodorus, but was accounted
fabulous until modern research had
proved its truth. This library was de-
stroyed by the Persian invasion several
centuries later. AS the early Egyptian
books were all papyrus rolls. which were
more fragile than the stone and clay
tablets composing the other ancient IL
braries, the records of them are less
complete.
From its early days Babylon was a
seat Of learning, and every temple con-
tanned a library OF its own. The books
Of these libraries would look strange to
modern eyes. They were small clay tab
lets with cuneiform inscriptions. but
they were carefully shelved with GER
tain system Of classification.
This is indicated by the library discoN'
cred at Nippur in the great temple OF
Bel, which was destroyed In the Elamite
invasion, 49, Il. c. During the past ten
years extensive excavations at this place
have restored this library to the learned
world after more than twenty-siX CEN
turies Many of it's books have been
placed in the University of Pennsylvania
and eminent scholars are giving attention
to their translation with considerable
success.
ra. fo,,do t;ov ~ tho oraot AIoxoudr;av,
library by Ptolemy Softer about 30 B. c.
marked the
Built Up Library beginning of
by Confscating Books. brary move
ment Of the world. Whatever their
faults, the early Ptolemies had a love OF
books, and it Is said that 1t was not safe
for stranger to enter Alexandria with
any kind Of a book. 1t was likely to be
confiscated for the library and the owner
was esteemed fortunate If he was even
allowed to make a copy Of its contents.
The Alexandrian library was partially
destroyed by julius Caesar during the
siege. Of Alexandria,; later. Mark Antony.
wishing to placate Cleopatra, presented
her with the library Of Pergamum, which
had already become a rival and thereby
he first excited the wrath Of educated
Romans by his devotion to the Egyptian
queen.
Part of this library was kept in the
Serapeum. the temple of Scraps, where
it remained until the time of the Emperor
Theodosius the Great. He permitted all
the heather temples to be destroyed, and
the mob of fanatical Christians, headed
by an archbishop, attacked the Serapun
and carried of most Of its literary treas
ures in the year 391. Later. when Alex.
andria was taken by the Arabians, 1t was
said that there were books enough vet
remaining in the library to heat the city
baths for six months.
The Arabians cared little for books al
that time. But after their conquests
were accomplished the khalifs became
patrons Of learning. and modern civ
ilization owes much to the Moslem II
braries they founded in Syria. Arabia
Egypt and Spain.
The first library Of Athens was founded
by Pisistratus, 400 B. c. This was seizet
J during the Persian war and carried t.
Persia, but most Of 1t was afterwart
returned. In Athens the library Of Arts
totle was first collected, but Sulla, find
ing it white elephant" on his hands
took the first means Of disposing of il
to Ptolemy II.