Library of Ashurbanipal

Q: Was the Library of Ashurbanipal the first in the world?

No. Libraries were established in Mesopotamia by 2900-2334 BCE. The Library of Ashurbanipal (7th century BCE) was the first comprehensive collection of texts systematically organized for preservation.

Q: Where and when was the Library of Ashurbanipal established?

The Library of Ashurbanipal was established at the city of Nineveh in the 7th century BCE.

Q: How was the Library of Ashurbanipal destroyed?

The Library of Ashurbanipal was destroyed by a coalition led by Medes and Babylonians who sacked Assyrian cities in 612 BCE.

Q: Why is the Library of Ashurbanipal significant?

The Library of Ashurbanipal is significant because of the over 30,000 texts discovered there in the 19th century, which, once cuneiform text was deciphered, led to a greater understanding of world history.

Joshua J. Mark

Library of Ashurbanipal

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Definition

The Library of Ashurbanipal (7th century BCE) is the oldest known systematically organized library in the world, established in Nineveh by the Neo-Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (r. 668-627 BCE) to preserve the history and culture of Mesopotamia. Over 30,000 texts were discovered at Nineveh in the mid-19th century, but the original collection is thought to have been much larger.

More about: Library of Ashurbanipal

Timeline

c. 647 BCE - 612 BCE
Duration of the Library of Ashurbanipal.

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