Using References in the Work of Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. 260-339) to Understand the Collection of the Library of Caesarea

This study seeks a deeper understanding of the library collection of the library of Caesarea in Palestine in about the year 300. The library was founded under the efforts of Pamphilus (d. 310) and Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. 260–339) in the last quarter of the third century. Pamphilus was martyred in 310, but Eusebius lived on, becoming bishop of Caesarea about 313, retaining this position for a quarter of a century. He was the author of over forty works, all of them written using the resources of the library of Caesarea. The study seeks to gain a greater understanding of the library using a two-pronged approach. First, the study marshals the evidence available from various ancient and modern authors concerning the nature of ancient books, their publication, and the nature of ancient libraries. All of this evidence is viewed within the context of librarianship. This evidence, assembled in the earlier chapters, provides the necessary context for further aspects of the study. Second, to that basic descriptive orientation, the study adds data concerning Eusebius's use of bibliographic material gathered from two of his works. The study compiles these references and places them in tables of data in the appendices of this study. The tables indicate where the work is referenced, the author and title of the work, the nature of the reference, whether it is a direct quotation, an indirect quotation, or an allusion. In addition, an estimate of its age is provided, along with its status as a work of reference. After examining these tabulated data, the study lists a total of 515 individual titles as residing in the library collection. This catalog of works is further analyzed and shows that the library collection was predominantly Christian without being overwhelmly so, that the non-Christian works were largely either historical works or philosophically oriented, and that there were at least seventeen reference works in the collection.