11. The Library of Alexandria’s Neglected Fire
The Library of Alexandria, established in the 3rd century BCE, was a beacon of ancient knowledge, housing hundreds of thousands of scrolls. In 48 BCE, during Julius Caesar’s civil war, a fire set to the Egyptian fleet spread to the city, damaging the library’s warehouses. While some scholars suggest this was a significant blow, others believe the library’s decline was gradual, with multiple incidents over centuries leading to its eventual destruction. For more details, refer to Britannica’s account of the Library of Alexandria. (britannica.com)
