In Ancient Egypt, in the city of Alexandria, there was a shrine dedicated to the Muses, goddesses who gave inspiration to scientists, artists, and philosophers. But these people also needed a place where they could read and study. So the king proclaimed that a great library be built, and soon scholars from all parts of the ancient world were flocking there.

The Library of Alexandria's patrons did not just sit and read quietly—they dissected corpses to learn about anatomy, gazed at the stars and calculated the size of the earth, sparked controversy, and changed the course of history with their ideas. Caesar and Cleopatra, Eratosthenes and Euclid, Archimedes and Alexander the Great are just a few of the famous people connected to the library's history. And while none of its books survive and no one is even sure what it looked like, the Library of Alexandria is remembered as a place where many important theories about the world were conceived.

This extensively researched, beautifully illustrated look at the most famous library in history features Kelly Trumble's accessible, engaging text, and richly detailed full-color paintings by Robina MacIntyre Marshall. Together, they tell the fascinating story of one of the wonders of the ancient world, whose influence has continued to the present day.

From the dust jacket