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Beyond the Fire: The Truth About the Library of Alexandria

Beyond the Myth: The Library of Alexandria

At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard of the legendary Library of Alexandria—even if just in passing. Words like knowledge, fire, history, and myth often arise when speaking of this ancient treasure. Whether you’re a curious reader or stumbled upon this blog by chance, here’s a look at how this place became one of the most famous libraries in human history.

Let’s go back to Egypt around 300 BCE. While there’s a popular legend that credits Alexander the Great with the idea of a grand library, many scholars now believe it was actually Ptolemy I Soter who envisioned it, and that it was built under the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Thanks to the support of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the Great Library of Alexandria once housed between 40,000 and 400,000 works—some sources claim even more—including literary, academic, and religious texts, as well as Greek translations of key works from other languages.

This vast collection gave rise to the belief that the loss of the Library set back human intellectual progress by centuries. But how true is this? And what really led to its disappearance?

The most widely shared story is that the library was destroyed in a catastrophic fire. While a fire did occur, it wasn’t the sole cause of its decline. The Library’s influence gradually diminished over centuries. A major blow came in 145 BCE, when many intellectuals were purged from Alexandria. Then, in 48 BCE, during Julius Caesar’s civil war, the library—located within the royal palace—was accidentally set ablaze. However, there is debate over how much was actually destroyed. Some say the entire collection burned, but this seems unlikely, considering the size and location of the palace. But that’s not where the story ends.

After the fall of Antony and Cleopatra, Egypt—along with its Library—fell under Roman control. Without a royal court to maintain it, the Library began to fade. In the 4th century CE, with Christianity declared the official religion of the Roman Empire, the Library’s pagan knowledge became a target. Under Emperor Theodosius I, anti-pagan laws allowed Christians to destroy temples and institutions—possibly including what remained of the Library.

The so-called final blow came in 642 CE, when Muslim forces captured Alexandria. According to legend, Caliph Umar ordered the destruction of the library’s contents, arguing that if the texts agreed with the Quran, they were unnecessary—and if they contradicted it, they were heretical. It’s said it took six months to burn all the scrolls.

Yet, many historians believe this last tale is just that—a tale. By the time Muslim armies arrived, the Great Library of Alexandria had likely already disappeared. Most scholars agree it vanished gradually, falling victim to neglect, ideological shifts, and war.

The Library of Alexandria remains one of the most symbolic cultural losses in history—whether through violence, intolerance, or simple misfortune. It stands as a powerful reminder of how lucky we are today to have access to libraries and knowledge at our fingertips.

LITERATURE

Elia, R. H. (2013). EL INCENDIO DE LA BIBLIOTECA DE ALEJANDRÍA POR LOS ÁRABES: UNA HISTORIA FALSIFICADA. Byzantion Nea HelláS, 32, 37–69. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-84712013000100002

Hernández, D. (2020, October 24). La Biblioteca de Alejandría, la destrucción del gran centro del saber de la Antigüedad. Historia National Geographic. https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/biblioteca-alejandria-destruccion-gran-centro-saber-antiguedad_8593

Mark, J. J., & Games, M. (2023). Biblioteca de Alejandría. Enciclopedia De La Historia Del Mundo. https://www.worldhistory.org/trans/es/1-10883/biblioteca-de-alejandria/

escritores.org. (2020, June 1). La Biblioteca de Alejandría. Escritores.org – Recursos Para Escritores. https://www.escritores.org/recursos-para-escritores/recursos-2/articulos-de-interes/30203-la-biblioteca-de-alejandria

De Filología Clásica De La Universidad Complutense De Madrid, C. G. G. C. (2024, August 27). La batalla de Accio: Octavio derrota a Antonio y Cleopatra. Historia National Geographic. https://historia.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/batalla-actium_22155

Writer: Ortiz Lorena
Editor: Flores Nayivi

Meet Ocelote, the Fierce Indie Press Redefining Mexican Literature

🐾 Do You Know Ocelote? A New Independent Mexican Publisher Worth Discovering

The ocelot is a carnivorous mammal and one of six species of wild cats native to Mexico. It’s important not to confuse it with the margay. Its scientific name is Leopardus pardalis, and its common name comes from the Nahuatl word océlotl. Medium-sized—between the jaguar and the jaguarundi—its coat features beautiful elongated rosette-like spots along its sides, with brown or black edges and black dots inside. Its ears are short, broad, and rounded.

The term “Ocelote” refers to this wild, striking feline that roams Mexico’s lush jungles and mountainous regions… but it’s also the name of a rising independent publisher based in León, Guanajuato.

Under the motto: “Read differently. Read independently. Read Ocelote“, this publishing house officially launched in 2024. With five published titles and more on the way, Ocelote aims not just to be another press but the literary voice of the Bajío region, Their books are carefully curated and beautifully crafted, showing they mean business. If you haven’t heard of them yet, here are three titles that will draw you into their world of spots and stories.

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🤖 “The Robots Will Tell Our Stories” by Daniel Centeno

In this short story collection, Daniel Centeno leads the reader through a world where all humans have disappeared, and robots face their own decay. The central question becomes: in a world without humans, what does it mean to be human? These tales dive deep into the absurdity of automation and the tragedy of both artificial and human existence, imagining a future without us.

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🌈 “Tornasol” by Alicia Mares

Alicia Mares, finalist of the XXXV Ana María Matute Women’s Narrative Prize and alumna of the Under The Volcano residency, offers a collection of nine chilling and poetic stories. Women and children—marked by grief—take center stage in eerie tales of horror, fantasy, and mystery, set in cold villages of Tlaxcala, the monarch butterfly sanctuaries of Michoacán, and the lonely highways of Veracruz. Through childhood memory, these stories recover wonder, healing, and even tenderness.

Libros de Editorial Ocelote - Librerias Gonvill, s.a. De c.v..

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🐍 “Dear Quetzalcóatl” by Adrián Chávez

Adrián Chávez, translator and winner of the 2017 Juan García Ponce National Short Novel Prize, delivers a brilliant satire based on a real historical episode. In 1930, Mexican politician Pascual Orozco proposed replacing Santa Claus with Quetzalcóatl as a Christmas figure. In this novel, the Mesoamerican god begins to receive Christmas letters. With sharp wit, Chávez critiques Mexican culture, identity, and nationalism, asking us to reconsider the meaning of tradition itself.

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These three books are just the beginning — Ocelote is taking its first bold steps with exciting new projects on the horizon, including something as rare as… poetry! Yes, in these times. Join the wild ride and read Ocelote

Literature

Www.Lugasoft.Mx. (n.d.). Editorial Ocelote. Editorial Ocelote. https://ocelote.mx/

colaboradores de Wikipedia. (2025, November 2). Leopardus pardalis. Wikipedia, La Enciclopedia Libre. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopardus_pardalis?utm_source=chatgpt.com%20″Leopardus%20pardalis”

Rocha, J. A. (2025, January 16). Descubre la nueva editorial “Ocelote”: Literatura del Bajío para el mundo. Periódico Correo. https://periodicocorreo.com.mx/vida-publica/2024/may/15/descubre-la-nueva-editorial-%20ocelote-literatura-del-bajio-para-el-mundo-99273.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com%20″Descubre%20la%20nueva%20editorial%20&

Writer: Ortiz Lorena
Editor: Flores Nayivi

How Reading Shapes Your Brain: What Science Reveals

Opening a book is like opening a window to a whole new world. Stories begin to unfold, and we see everything without really seeing it—without needing a screen. But how does this happen? How are these mental images generated? How is information processed, retained, and understood? And more importantly, what happens in the long term when we build a reading habit? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, this article is for you.

Researchers at UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) have found that reading activates a specific region in the brain—mainly the left hemisphere, starting with the occipital lobe, the area responsible for recognizing visual stimuli such as faces and shapes. This stimulation excites neurons and causes blood vessels to release nutrients. However, there’s another fascinating step: the brain must still decode what it sees at the word level. We first see a series of symbolsthat, on their own, are meaningless. Only when one letter follows another do we begin to form concepts, then sentences, and eventually syntax and meaning. We analyze grammar, interpret coherence, and ultimately understand the emotional and logical layers of what we read.

But there’s even more. Studies from New York University and the Language Dynamics Lab in Lyon, France, reveal that our brain doesn’t clearly distinguish between reading about a character’s experience and actually living it. This means that reading can trigger strong emotional and sensory responses. For example, the motor regions of the brain that light up when we silently read action words are the same areas activated when we physically perform those actions.

¿Pensaste alguna vez qué pasa por tu cabeza cuándo lees? — Have you ever thought about what goes through your head when you read?

This suggests an overlap between the brain regions used to understand stories and those used for empathy and social interaction. In other words, by feeling connected to fictional characters, we also become more emotionally attuned to real people. Frequent reading may help improve our ability to relate to and understand others.

In the long term, reading has additional effects on the brain. Even though the brain isn’t a muscle, “exercising” it can improve its function over time. The Brain Institute found that reading stimulates imagination, anticipation, and learning, thereby boosting brain function and improving mental health. Over time, this can help protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases, delaying symptoms of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Reading is a habit that gets better with practice. The more we read, the more skilled we become—and the faster and more effectively we comprehend information. Regular reading—even once a week, according to studies—lowers the risk of cognitive decline, enhances social skills, provides knowledge, and strengthens critical thinking. So, if you were looking for a reason to pick up a book, now you have plenty.

Un hombre le enseña a sus nietas a leer. La lectura, por implicar imaginación, mentalización, anticipación ...

Here, the official National Geographic website tells us about the importance of reading throughout our lives and the benefits it provides.

Mexican Literature in Film: Discover the Books Behind These Movies

Movies You Didn’t Know Were Books First

It’s no secret that many movies are based on books. Global blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter have proven how powerful a great story from the page can be on the big screen. But what about Spanish-language books that aren’t part of a saga, aren’t young adult, and haven’t built a cult following?

Here are three outstanding Mexican and Latin American novels that made their way to the screen—books you may not have realized inspired incredible films, and that are definitely worth reading.

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“Las niñas bien” by Guadalupe Loaeza

This was the debut book by Guadalupe Loaeza, offering a sharp, satirical look at Mexico’s upper class. A key piece for understanding the idiosyncrasies, contradictions, and worldview of this elite sector of society, it also helps us reflect on the present through stories shaped by financial crises. The film adaptation, directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella, follows Sofía, a woman trying to keep up appearances after the 1982 Mexican economic crash. The film stars Ilse Salas, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Paulina Gaitán, and Johanna Murillo

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“The House of the Spirits” by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende’s first novel tells the story of a powerful family in an unnamed Latin American country. It follows Esteban, a proud and volatile man obsessed with land and his mysterious wife Clara, who possesses supernatural abilities; their daughter Blanca, in love with her father’s foreman’s son; and Alba, the granddaughter who brings the family saga full circle. The film adaptation from 1993, directed by Bille August, features a stellar international cast including Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, and Antonio Banderas.

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“Tear This Heart Out” by Ángeles Mastretta

In this powerful feminist novel, Ángeles Mastretta introduces us to Catalina, a passionate young woman who marries a powerful politician in post-revolutionary Mexico. Caught in a society where women are expected to be beautiful but silent, Catalina begins to rebel, seeking love and meaning on her own terms. The film version, directed by Roberto Sneider, premiered in 2008 with performances by Ana Claudia Talancón, Daniel Giménez Cacho, José María de Tavira, and Irene Azuela.

*The official* **CINRESERVAS** website provides a review and important quotes from the plot of Ángeles Mastretta’s film “Arráncame la vida”

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Some of this list probably surprised you (and of course it could!). If you’ve already seen these productions but haven’t read the books, we assure you that delving into them will be a transformative experience. And if you haven’t seen them before, both in print and on screen, these stories will fascinate you.

The Best Mexican Books to Gift This Christmas

5 Great Books to Gift (or Treat Yourself) This Christmas

December is a month filled with wonderful things: the weather, the food, gatherings with family and friends, and, with the New Year around the corner, the chance to embrace what many consider a “fresh start.” And with new beginnings come new reading plans for the year ahead. Personally, I’m one of those who enjoy finishing any pending books before the year ends, just in time to map out a new reading journey. With this in mind, and to share both the holiday spirit and a love for Mexican literature, I’ve selected five titles that should definitely make it onto your reading list.

1. El murmullo entre las viñas de Diana Heredia

“My book reminds readers that no matter what happens, life always offers a chance to start over,” says the author about her work. Narrated from three perspectives, the story begins with Valeria, the protagonist, then shifts to her husband Julián’s point of view, and concludes with the voice of the Guadalupe Valley itself. This novel is known for its richly descriptive narrative, transporting readers to the scents, cuisine, and wines of the vineyards in Baja California.

El murmullo entre las viñas

2. Bazar nocturno de Carlos Iván Sánchez

This book is a collection of fantasy literature short stories, infused with humor and poetry. Combining two genres—short stories and microfiction—the author crafts characters and settings with just a few sentences. In the longer pieces, there’s an echo of Edgar Allan Poe’s style. Written over four years, this collection marks the author’s literary debut.

Bazar nocturno

3. Country music de Edgar Trevizo

This poetry collection is divided into five sections, framed by a prologue and an epilogue that give it the feel of a complete narrative. Inspired by nature, small details, and the people of contemporary life, these verses also reflect the author’s cultural depth through reinterpretations of works by other poets.

Country music

4. El crimen de Mariana Jobs de Maileth Patiño

This short, mystery-filled novel follows Mariana, a professional accused of orchestrating the murder of her father, whom she never forgave for abandoning her. With her brother’s support, she fights to prove her innocence, only to encounter an unexpected twist that changes everything. Intrigue and suspense drive this modern tale.

El crimen de Mariana Jobs

5. Antología de Lambert Schlechter

For the first time in Mexico, renowned Luxembourg poet Lambert Schlechter publishes a collection of 79 texts, including letters, poems, and reflections. This bilingual edition, in Spanish and its original language, showcases the richness of the text while being beautifully presented with handcrafted binding by La Cartonera, complete with a one-of-a-kind hand-drawn illustration.

Antología

Choosing the perfect gift can be a challenge, but these books bring intrigue, mystery, love, beauty, and humor. With such a wide variety of themes and styles, they’re perfect for giving—or keeping for yourself—this holiday season.

nkitt: BbyKevs

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The Flavors of History: Traditional Mexican Recipes Inspired by Sor Juana

To connect with a culture, especially one as rich and ancient as Mexico’s, we can turn to books that recount its history, as well as research that includes maps and photographs to illustrate these stories. Taking it a step further, museums offer access to archaeological artifacts, reproductions of codices, and historical clothing. Visiting an archaeological site, exploring small towns, or walking through the streets of a historic center brings us even closer to the echoes of the past.

However, nothing transports us back in time quite like food. Flavors evoke memories, and certain ingredients, unique to specific regions, provide not just identity but also a sense of nationality. In this context, Mexican cuisine, recognized as a World Heritage, stands out as a living tradition passed down from generation to generation. While recipes are widely shared online today, few books capture the essence of this tradition as beautifully as the Cookbook of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

Libro de cocina

This special edition, reissued in 1979 by historians Muriel de González Mariscal and Guadalupe Pérez San Vicente, is remarkable not only for its content but also for its presentation. Designed by the Taller Gráfica de Comala, only 150 copies were printed, each handmade with original engravings and movable metal type. The book features an introductory text by Sol Rubín de la Borbolla, a prominent scholar of Mexican culture.

The book includes traditional recipes like cheese fritters, ricotta and wind fritters, hojuelas, and sweets made with cream, beet, walnut, butter, mamey, and pineapple. These recipes do more than please the palate; they invite us to reflect on time. What does the past taste like? Often, a particular flavor takes us back to childhood or a meaningful moment. Cooking these recipes immerses us in the 17th century, a time when the flavors of America, Europe, and the Arab world blended to create something new: Mexican identity.

While change is a natural part of life, humans strive to preserve the things that connect us to the past. Traditions are a cornerstone of our identity, and preserving them is a shared responsibility. Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz may never have imagined that her book would resonate across centuries, but she left us a fragment of history. Through this text, we rediscover her daily life and her relationship with gastronomy, extending her legacy beyond her writings and historical contributions.

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Del silencio al estruendo Sara Sefchovich

Throughout the history of humanity, women and the fact of being women have been overlooked—until very recently. It’s important to make this distinction because those who haven’t thought about it should: education—both at home and in school—is almost entirely conceived from the male perspective. Women have had to understand the world through the lens of men. This perspective isn’t necessarily wrong, but it is biased. The world, as seen by women, is different and shouldn’t be expected to be the same because the experience of being a man and being a woman is different.

The way of understanding the world, history, and culture has been through men. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that emphasis began to be placed on the fact that women existed beyond their domestic roles, that they could think like anyone else and had rights, including the right to express their thoughts. Before this, it was known that women wrote, but entering that field and being taken seriously was not easy. Many women had to sign their works with pseudonyms or initials to get them published. Virginia Woolf, in “A Room of One’s Own,” acknowledges the class privilege she had that allowed her to write, coming from a wealthy family. She analyzes the paths Jane Austen and Emily Brontë had to tread and yet, throughout the book, she experiences moments of being ignored and underestimated for being a woman in a man’s world.

It is from this foundation that Sara Sefchovich draws to write “Del silencio al estruendo.” The author seeks, with this essay, to discover what women write about, from where they write, and to understand if there is a difference between female and male literature, and if so, where that difference lies. She undertakes the task of first establishing that there was a time when women could access the education that allowed them to read and write, and that there was a second period of peace in society when culture and the arts could flourish, and it was then that they wrote. Sefchovich seeks to understand the fabric of women writers and their works, observing the panorama throughout history, different cultures, and how it has changed over time, hoping to find a pattern or trend that explains what, how, and why women write.

One cannot write about the unknown. When women began to write, they did so about what surrounded them, and for many of them, the axis of their lives was their family and marriage, so they started there. This worked against them, of course, leading to the notion that women could only write romantic novels. Time had to pass for women’s writing to enter the realms of realism, naturalism, modernism, and genres like poetry, theater, and essays. The style and theme of each writer are individual and determined by their environment, ideology, values, social circumstances, and countless factors that give them a unique character. While this rule also applies to men, their social conditions remain different because the education provided to women and men continues to be distinct.

This book seeks to answer the major questions and inquiries that have been made about literature written by women, considering the context, history, and circumstances in which it has been created. This essay is a watershed between the past and the future, as it analyzes the parameters with which literature has been measured in general and sets the guidelines for how women’s literary work might be read and considered in the future.

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