Origins of Papyrus:
When the Mesopotamians used clay tablets as a writing material, the Egyptians used papyrus. Papyrus was widely cultivated on the Nile River coast and in the surrounding areas.
How Papyrus Was Made:
Papyrus is basically made from a special type of tree known as the reed tree. The Egyptians cut the trunks of these trees into long, narrow strips. Later, these narrow strips were pressed together and made into sheets, and a kind of adhesive was applied to make the sheets much larger. These were dried, rubbed with a stone to make them easier to use with ink. In modern times, people use different types of paper. Even in the early days of papyrus, craftsmen were regularly engaged to improve their quality. In special cases, long sheets were rolled up and arranged for permanent preservation. So that they could be used or exported later if necessary. However, export restrictions were imposed for fear that others would make such materials. These papyrus scrolls invented by the Egyptians were sometimes quite long. A sample of such a long papyrus scroll is currently preserved in the British Library, the national museum of Britain. It is called Harris Papyrus 1. Its length is 133 feet.
Oldest Papyrus Records:
Papyrus is very perishable. However, several specimens and papyri containing inscriptions from ancient times still survive. Enthusiastic archaeologists have recovered them from various remote places. The oldest papyri found so far are from 2700 BC. And the Harris Papyrus written above has been proven to be from 1100 BC.
Papyrus was the writing material of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region by 500 BC. And it was widely accepted and used in this region until 300 AD. It was used until the tenth century. The famous libraries of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome had collections only of papyrus. Almost all the histories that are read in ancient libraries in the present era are based on second-hand reports. Therefore, it is difficult to get more detailed information than this.
Role of Papyrus in Ancient Libraries and Knowledge Preservation
However, it is known that a library was established in a place called Amarna by 1300 BC and a library was established in a place called Thebes by 1200 BC. But the existence of the libraries has long since disappeared.
Egypt: The famous library of ancient times “Alexandria” is one of the most important monuments of Greek culture and civilization. It is not just a library, but a museum of that era, an institution. In the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander in 330 BC, his successor Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II did not bring the desired prosperity to it.
Many believe that Alexander the Great was the real visionary of this library. History is unable to provide any accurate information on Alexander as the founder or visionary of this library. However, no one disagrees with identifying the Alexandria Library as the largest and most valuable library of ancient times. Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II enriched this library by bringing all the available collections. It is said that Emperor Ptolemy II imprisoned 70 Jewish scholars in a house similar to a lamp established by the Pharaohs for contributing to the Hebrew translation of the Old Testament. When the translation work was completed, they were released. The name of this Old Testament in Hebrew, translated by Philadelphus, is Sepuagaint, and it is the first religious book translated from Greek to Hebrew. Another account states that the Jewish scholars were locked inside the House of Light, one of the Seven Wonders of the World established by Pharaoh. Located on the coast of Alexandria, this site housed all the written documents and books of the time, including the Folcapyras and many others.
Historical records mention that there were seven million collections in this library. As a result, the best scholars of the era were appointed to work with these library books, many of whom are now well-remembered in history.
Greece: The Greeks also used papyrus as a writing material. Ancient Greece is also famous for its library organization. However, its position is comparatively later than that of Egypt. Among the libraries established in Greece, the library established by Pisistratus is famous.
Pisistratus was the ruler of Athens in the 7th century BC. He was the first to establish a library there with government funding. Most people in ancient times were illiterate. They did not know how to read. Therefore, the use of other libraries, including the library founded by Pisistratus, was limited to a certain number of people.
Pisistratus was a warrior by nature and a leader of the poor people of Athens. He was very supportive of literary figures. He was a devoted admirer of Homer’s poetry. He once ordered all his nobles to collect all the poems of Homer.
Another famous library in Athens was founded by the philosopher Aristotle. It was located at the Lyceum, where Aristotle’s school was established. The purpose for which today’s university library was established and all the programs implemented were the same as those of the scholar Aristotle. It is worth noting that the services provided there were also of a modern nature like those of today’s university libraries. But unfortunately, it did not last long. It is said that his heirs sold this collection to the Alexia Library.Another source tells us that a Roman general named Cornelius Sulla, who sacked Athens, took its collection to Rome to decorate his palace.
In ancient times, family collections must have been like a real library. The contents of these collections were classical writings, religious books, religious interpretations, and literary works on contemporary and historical subjects.
And in this way, the history of the Roman personal collection occupies a special part in the history of the family library. Although it is not of the very early period, the role of the Roman private library in the history of the library is very bright.
Rome:
The ancient Roman nation mastered the method of starting a library from Egypt and the circle. They did not choose the library institution as the best carrier to hold their glory. The libraries that were established in Rome at the very beginning are not libraries, but private collections. The Greek literature that the Romans would have admired and respected was used to make up their main collection. In fact, having a private library became a matter of nobility for the Romans.
Roman statesman, general, and prominent warrior Julius Caesar planned to establish a public library in Rome during his reign. The Octavian Library is probably the most successful example of his plan. Emperor Augustus founded this library on Palestine Hill in Rome in 37 BC, seven years after the death of Julius Caesar. Many believe that this was the first library in Rome. However, many other public libraries were established there after this. In 337 AD, a survey mentioned that there were twenty-eight libraries in Rome. Of these, the Alpine Library, founded by Emperor Trajan (110 AD), was the best. This library had separate rooms for Greek and Latin books.
Throughout the history of the world, various exceptional features can be observed. The Roman emperors of that time had a special inclination or bias towards decorating their homes with books and establishing libraries. Love of books was their national characteristic. They inspired people to establish libraries throughout the vast Roman Empire. Many of their works testify to their love of learning and culture. They maintained the Hadrian Library, which was founded by Emperor Hadrian in the city of Athens around 125 AD.
The papyrus libraries of Rome (called Sangrah Papyri) no longer exist, as they did in Egypt and Greece. But a collection of papyri collected by the Roman military nobleman Lucius Calpurnius Piso was later recovered. Piso lived in the city of Herculaneum, located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. In 71 AD, a massive eruption from Mount Vesuvius completely destroyed all the towns in the surrounding area and buried them under the lava. In 1750, an excavation uncovered Piso’s collection, along with the library. The papyrus scrolls were found there during the excavation. About 1,800 of these scrolls are currently in the National Museum of Naples, Italy.
