The Ancient Alexandrian Library: Part of It May Survive!

Though historians have disagreed widely about the date of the final destruction of the ancient Alexandrian Library, a part of that great collection may still survive. Apparently the fire set by Julius Caesar, to clear the harbour of Alexandrian warships, spread along the docks to the warehouses where it destroyed ‘40,000 books’. Some think these books were from the Library, awaiting transport to Rome. It is suggested here that the Librarian, during the process of packing, substituted bags of straw (that were burned at the dock) for the bags of precious scrolls that were hidden away and still await discovery.