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Another myth is the dramatic destruction of the library at the hands of a singular villain. Some narratives accuse Julius Caesar of accidentally setting fire to the library in 48 BC, while others point to Christians in 391 AD, or Muslims in 641 AD, as the destroyers. These stories simplify a much more complex historical reality: the library did not meet its end in a single catastrophic event.
The Libraries of Alexandria
A crucial aspect often overlooked is that there were actually two distinct libraries in Alexandria. The first was housed in the Museum, established in the 3rd century BC as part of a temple dedicated to the Muses. This library built its reputation over centuries and primarily thrived during the Ptolemaic dynasty when the empire was at its peak.