The heart of the Alexandrian Library was its collection of books. The organizers combed all the cultures and languages of the world. They sent agents abroad to buy up libraries. Commercial ships docking in Alexandria were searched by the police — not for contraband, but for books. The scrolls were borrowed, copied, and then returnedContinue reading “Alexandrian Library”
Category Archives: Ancients
As you appear to be
from Rumi: Güneş gibi ol şefkatte, merhamette Be like the sun in your compassion and mercy Gece gibi ol ayıpları örtmekte Be like the night and provide cover for the shame of others Akarsu gibi ol keremde, cömertlikte Be like a stream of kindness and generosity Ölü gibi ol öfkede, asabiyette Be like death toContinue reading “As you appear to be”
In the backstreets
I love museums and I am not alone in finding that they make me happier with each passing day. I take museums very seriously, and that sometimes leads me to angry, forceful thoughts. But I do not have it in me to speak about museums with anger. In my childhood there were very few museumsContinue reading “In the backstreets”
Socrates plots against the poets
‘The gravest charge against poetry still remains. It has a terrible power to corrupt even the best characters, with very few exceptions.’ ‘It is indeed terrible if it can do that.’ ‘Then listen. When we hear Homer or one of the tragic poets representing the sufferings of a hero and making him bewail them atContinue reading “Socrates plots against the poets”
Fine monuments
Some of you will have fine monuments by which the living may remember the evil done to you. Some of you will have only crude wooden crosses or painted rocks, while yet others of you must remain hidden in the shadows of history. You are in any case part of an ancient procession, and soContinue reading “Fine monuments”