Note 37 — Chapter V · THE SPREAD OF ISLAM

[The loss sustained in Cæsar’s time was repaired by Antony’s gift to Cleopatra of the library of Pergamus. Alexandria possessed two libraries: one, that of the Bruchion, which was destroyed during the popular tumults in the reign of Gallienus, 263 A.D.; the other, that of the Serapeum, which experienced the same fate from the violence of Theophilus, as related in ch. 28, to which Gibbong has here referred. These valuable collections had, therefore, disappeared 250 years before the invasion of Egypt by Amru; nor in that interval does history record a prince, patriarch, or prefect, who had either the means or the will to replace them. The tale of Abul-Farajh would not have been so industriously circulated, had it not served the purpose of those who wished to impute to the barbarian conquerors of Rome the guilt of darkening the world. Gibbon says he felt strongly tempted to deny both the fact and the consequences of this irreparable shipwreck of learning, as being founded on the simple authority of Abul-Faraj, whilst Eutychiusi and El-Makinc are both silent on the subject. Milman,j however, adds that since this period several new Mohammedan authorities have been adduced to support Abul-Faraj: that of (1) Abd al-Latif,k by Professor Whitel; (2) of Makrisim; (3) of Ibn Khaldunn; and after them Haji Khalfa.o Reinhard in a German dissertation, printed at Göttingen, 1792, and St. Croix (Magasin Encyclop., tom. IV, p. 433), have examined the question. Among oriental scholars, Professor White, M. St. Martin,q Von Hammer,r and Silv. de Sacys consider the fact of the burning of the library, by the command of Omar, beyond question. A Mohammedan writer brings a similar charge against the crusaders. The library of Tripolis is said to have contained the incredible number of three millions of volumes. On the capture of the city, Count Bertram of St. Gilles, entering the first room, which contained nothing but the Koran, ordered the whole to be burned, as the works of the false prophet of Arabia.]