"The ancient Library of Alexandria, housing some 700,000 scrolls, was the inimitable centre of world learning and culture," wrote Mrs Suzanne Mubarak in her introductory note to Mouseion, a commemorative book issued by Al-Ahram Weekly to mark this week's momentous rebirth of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Mouseion was distributed among the hundreds of distinguished guests who attended yesterday's inauguration of the library.
The illustration is an imaginary depiction of one of the many rooms of the ancient library.