646
Communication
The final destruction of the Library at Alexandria probably takes place this year. A famous story, perhaps true, says that when the Muslim general 'Amr ibn-al-'As captures the city he asks the Caliph what to do with the Library. He is informed that if the books agree with the Koran they are superfluous, but if they disagree they are blasphemous and should be destroyed, which is what the general does. See also 391 Communication.






