The New Library in Alexandria: Tourist attraction, cultural statement or political declaration?

According to Fredrico Mayor, the original Library of Alexandria was “A symbol” and “… a beacon, marking a stage on the highway of human enlightenment”

It is certainly true that the ancient Library certainly captured the imagination of much of the ancient world (quotes?). But most of the ancient world has now disappeared or is left in ruins. Only in Hollywood do we see it re-created in the form of epics such as Ben-Hur, or Gladiator. So why after so many years have the Egyptian Government, backed by Unesco, chosen to build a major new library at Alexandria? In the preface to Mostafa El-Abbadi’s study of the ancient Library, Fredrico Mayor goes on to state: “The Project… is rooted above all in the symbol. This is not some antiquarian attempt to reconstitute a vanished monument; the intention is rather to commemorate the Library of Alexandria in the only manner appropriate – by restating its universal legacy in modern terms”. But how has this been done?

The original ancient Library was effectively the Mouseion within the palace complex which was expanded during the 3rd century BCE by Ptolmy I as part of his re-development of Alexandria it quickly gained a reputation beyond Egypt.

In one of Herodas’ mimes an Alexandria is depicted where there is to be found: ‘wealth, palaestrae, power, prosperity, glory, shows, philosophers, gold, youth, the temple of the Adelphoi, the generous King, Mouseion, wine, all the good things you may desire, and women more numerous than heavenly stars who would compete in beauty with the goddesses who sought the judgement of Paris’”.

In his book on the Library of Alexandria El-Abbadi discusses various 3rd century BCE histories. He points to opposing views between the Greeks and Egyptians over their respective importance in the development of science and culture. His sympathies certainly seem to lie with the pro-Egyptian