The Idea of the Library in the Ancient World (2010) (ATTiCA)

## Abstract The Idea of the Library in the Ancient World takes the reader not just to Alexandria, the home of the famed library of Greco‐Roman antiquity, but far beyond it. Reading across antiquity from the fifth century BCE to the ninth century CE with Photius, the Byzantine scholar, this study recognizes that ‘library’ in antiquity comes in various forms and shapes. It can be a building with books, but it can also be individual people and individual books themselves. Its functions in antiquity are also numerous. The library is an instrument of power, of memory, of which it has various modes; it is an articulation of a political ideal, an art gallery, a place for social intercourse. The book indirectly raises issues about the contemporary library as a collection and in this way it demonstrates that antiquity offers insight into the topics that the library now raises. In The Idea Of The Library In The Ancient World Yun Lee Too Argues That The Ancient Library Was Much More Than Its Incarnation At Alexandria, Which Has Been The Focus For Students Of The Subject Until Now. In Fact, The Library Is A Complex Institution With Many Different Forms. It Can Be A Building With Books, But It Can Also Be Individual People, Or The Individual Books Themselves. In Antiquity, The Library's Functions Are Numerous: As An Instrument Of Power, Of Memory, Of Which It Has Various Modes; As An Articulation Of A Political Ideal, An Art Gallery, A Place For Sociality. Too Indirectly Raises Important Conceptual Questions About The Contemporary Library, Bringing To These The Insights That A Study Of Antiquity Can Offer.--jacket. Introduction : The Idea Of The Library -- Origins : The Diachronic Perspective. The Birth Of A Library ; Library Catalogues : From Literary Description To Literary Self-description -- Forms Of The Library. The Breathing Library : Performing Cultural Memories ; The Library (as) Book : The Fantasy Of The Total Text ; The Library Of Universal History : Diodorus Siculus And Literary Cosmopolitanism -- Memories. Inside And Outside The Library : The Memory Of Canon -- Physicalities. Picture Libraries : Statues Among The Books ; The Sociality Of The Ancient Library. Yun Lee Too. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Idea of the Library in the Ancient World (2010) (ATTiCA)......Page 2 Preface......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 9 Introduction: The Idea of the Library......Page 10 Origins: The Diachronic Perspective......Page 26 1. The Birth of a Library......Page 28 2. Library Catalogues: From Literary Description to Literary Self-Description......Page 59 Forms of the Library......Page 89 3. The Breathing Library: Performing Cultural Memories......Page 92 4. The Library (as) Book: The Fantasy of the Total Text......Page 124 5. The Library of Universal History: Diodorus Siculus and Literary Cosmopolitanism......Page 152 Memories......Page 180 6. Inside and Outside the Library:The Memory of Canon......Page 181 7. Picture Libraries: Statues among the Books......Page 200 References......Page 253 General Index......Page 262 Index Locorum......Page 267 In The Idea of the Library in the Ancient World Yun Lee Too argues that the ancient library was much more than its incarnation at Alexandria, which has been the focus for students of the subject up till now. In fact, the library is a complex institution with many different forms. It can be a building with books, but it can also be individual people, or the individual books themselves. In antiquity, the library's functions are numerous: as an instrument of power, of memory, of which it has various modes; as an articulation of a political ideal, an art gallery, a place for sociality. Too indirectly raises important conceptual questions about the contemporary library, bringing to these the insights that a study of antiquity can offer. A study of the ancient library as a complex institution with many different functions: as an instrument of power, of memory an articulation of a political ideal, an art gallery, a place for sociality. Too incidentally raises conceptual questions about modern libraries, bringing to these the insights that a study of antiquity can offer