- Finley, Susan (2014). "Census Library of Ephesus: The man and the city behind the famous facade." Libra, 64 (3), 277-292.
- A "Dig Deeper" article from Ancient Libraries
- Accessible online at http://bit.ly/2kLJPbJ
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| Thanks to Wikimedia Commons http://bit.ly/2lix0TV |
"Celsus Library of Ephesus is one of the oldest and most frequently photographed library structures in the world." In case you're like me, and somehow still had never seen it, here's a pic:
Finley opens her article by pointing out that most researchers focus on the Celsus Library's predecessors (the Alexandrian Library, the Library of Pergamum, or just earlier Roman public libraries) and do not delve into the history of this particular one. She argues that it is important to learn what we can of Celsus Library, even if it is done in a roundabout way due to a lack of operating records. "Moreover, a public library dedicated to an individual, as the Library of Celsus was, can provide potential insights into the community the library serves and the person it honors as well as the intentions of its benefactors." (pg. 2) I liked this sociological viewpoint.
Indeed, the first 8 pages describe the history and socio-economic circumstances of the city of Ephesus. This could seem beside-the-point, but actually shows how the city emphasized the arts with its theater that could seat 10% of the population at a single event, the importance of education in all the school records, and the seaport records show how the library's collection development was positively affected and that the general wealth of the city at the time of the library's construction explains its grandiosity.
Celsus was a distinguished statesman from a long line of nobility, who stood out as one of the few (Greek) Eastern men to serve. He held a number of titles, both political and military, including "aedium sacrarum et operum locorumque publicorum populi Romani, or curator of public works in Rome." (pg. 10) So it is not so strange that after his death, his son chose to build a library in his honor. As Celsus was seen as an inspirational figure to his fellow Greeks, who were living under Roman prejudice, the architecture of the library itself fittingly includes traditional features from both cultures. (One thing I found interesting in the discussion on architecture is that there is no evidence of any staircase having been built. So how did the librarians transport books between floors? One theory included trapdoor and ladders!)
Overall, this article was a worthwhile read not just because of its subject matter, but almost more so because of its historical viewpoint--using a sociological lenses to deduce details out of context.
Celsus was a distinguished statesman from a long line of nobility, who stood out as one of the few (Greek) Eastern men to serve. He held a number of titles, both political and military, including "aedium sacrarum et operum locorumque publicorum populi Romani, or curator of public works in Rome." (pg. 10) So it is not so strange that after his death, his son chose to build a library in his honor. As Celsus was seen as an inspirational figure to his fellow Greeks, who were living under Roman prejudice, the architecture of the library itself fittingly includes traditional features from both cultures. (One thing I found interesting in the discussion on architecture is that there is no evidence of any staircase having been built. So how did the librarians transport books between floors? One theory included trapdoor and ladders!)
Overall, this article was a worthwhile read not just because of its subject matter, but almost more so because of its historical viewpoint--using a sociological lenses to deduce details out of context.
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