The Library of Alexandria Wasn't Destroyed in a Single Fire
Contrary to popular belief, the Library of Alexandria declined gradually over centuries due to budget cuts and neglect, not a dramatic burning.
About this fact
The popular image of the Library of Alexandria burning in a single catastrophic event is a myth. The library actually declined slowly over several centuries due to various factors. During the Roman period, government funding was gradually reduced. Christianity's rise led to decreased interest in pagan learning. The library suffered damage during various conflicts, including Julius Caesar's siege (48 BC), Christian riots (391 AD), and the Arab conquest (641 AD), but none completely destroyed it. By the time of the Arab conquest, the library was already a shadow of its former self. The 'burning by Arabs' story was invented centuries later by medieval Christian chroniclers. In reality, the library's decline was more like a slow starvation than a dramatic death.