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HistorySurprise 4/5Difficulty 4/5Reviewed on September 17, 2026

The Library of Alexandria was not destroyed in a single catastrophic fire, but declined over centuries due to multiple events, including budget cuts.

Why it is true

Contrary to popular myth, there was no single event that destroyed the library. Its decline was gradual, resulting from funding cuts, political purges, and damage in conflicts over several centuries, from the Roman period to the Islamic conquest.

Source: British Museum

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