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HistorySurprise 5/5Difficulty 4/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

The Library of Alexandria was not destroyed in a single fire, but declined over several centuries.

Why it is true

Ancient accounts mention fires, funding cuts and conflicts, but there is no proof of a single event that erased it. The decline was gradual and involved the loss of support and the dispersal of scholars.

Source: Smithsonian

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