Library in Alexandria

The libraries of Alexandria (in Egypt) became depositories of knowledge and were major contributors to the advancement of science and intellectual studies in many other countries. 

With the passing of Frater Albertus in 1984, there seemed to be a void in alchemical teachings and a lack of a central point where students could exchange information. By the early nineties, through the efforts of several PRS students, contact with a French group was made and the Philosophers of Nature (PON) was formulated to fill the void with fresh ideas and to carry on research in alchemy. The PON closed in the late nineties. Now we have the Internet—the new "Library of Alexandria." As we shall see, chemistry, left to grow unfettered, has nearly come full circle to rediscover the Hermetic Philosophy. 

Computers are worth a whole history library, from counting-stones and notched sticks to abacus on to today s supercomputer. It is likely that very sophisticated devices in ancient Greece were lost from history by the fires in the great library in ancient Alexandria. However, a serious contender to the medieval computer mentioned in this chapter is the antikythera mechanism, the clockwork style device discovered more than 100 years ago in a Roman shipwreck and thought to have been used by ancient Greeks to read astronomical cycles. 

What is known is that the first verifiable person attached to an alchemical manuscript was Zosimos of Panopolis, who wrote in Alexandria, Egypt around 300 A.D. Alexandria was home to the greatest library of the classical world. Started in the third century B.C., it housed 400,000 to 500,000 books and manuscripts, mostly in Greek. The library was largely destroyed during civil wars toward the end of the third century A.D. and its daughter library sacked by Christians in 391 A.D. ... 

Following the destruction of alchemical works by Diocletian, the famous Library of Alexandria was itself burnt to the ground by a Christian mob in 390CE. This loss of the Library, followed by the gruesome murder of the beautiful mathematician Hypatia by a gang of monks twenty-five years later, ushered in Europe s Dark Ages. 

Ptolemy, one of Alexander s generals, established a kingdom in Egypt, with the city of Alexandria (founded by Alexander) as his capital. In Alexandria, Ptolemy and his son (Ptolemy II) established a temple to the Muses (the Museum ) which served as what we would today call a research institution and university. Attached to it, the greatest library of ancient times was built up. 

Academically Astute. The most famous library of the ancient world was the renowned library at Alexandria. Khensa studied there in secret. 

The work of C.G. Dunkle found in his Syllabus (1957/1958) issued in typewritten form by Picatinny Arsenal Library, Dover, NJ (Accession Number U48378) and Syllabus (1960-196 1), contg additions and corrections to the earlier syllabus, were very helpful, especially for locating primary sources of information. Syllabus (1960-1961) can be obtd as AD 290417 from the Defense Documentation Center, Defense Supply Agency, Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. US Bureau of Mines... 

The deed is in the Alexandria Public Library. 1799 price National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form. ... 

In AD 390 the library and museum at Alexandria were ransacked by Christians suspicious of non-Christian learning. Alchemy continued to be practised in the Hellenistic world, but no new discoveries were made, with the important exception of Greek fire. This was a chemical weapon, and consisted of a liquid that caught fire on contact with water. It was used to deadly effect by the Byzantines, who sprayed it towards the ships of the enemy. It was first used in AD 665 against the fleet of the Arabs, and on several subsequent occasions its use was probably the decisive factor in preventing the fall of Constantinople. 

Even later, when higher levels of civilization were reached, organic polymers were essential necessities in peace and war. All books in the famous library of ancient Alexandria consisted either of... 

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