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

The Library of Alexandria was probably not destroyed in a single fire.

Why it is true

Contrary to popular belief, the Library of Alexandria did not disappear in a single fire. Historians believe it was lost gradually over centuries, due to funding cuts, wars and various fires, including Julius Caesar's in 48 BC.

Source: Smithsonian

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