When was the Ulpian Library built in ancient Rome?
Emperor Trajan issued a commission to build the library in 112 AD and construction finished two years later in 114 AD. The structure rose due north of the Roman Forum at the heart of the empire.
Questions about Ulpian Library
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the capacity of the scroll collection in the Ulpian Library?
Scholars estimate approximately ten thousand scrolls filled both Latin and Greek sections of the facility. The non-public collection likely drew from the private library of Epaphrodites of Cheronea which held more than 30,000 books and scrolls.
How did the Ulpian Library function as a public record office?
The building served as the Public Record Office for the city with over 20,000 scrolls containing population records. Presses stored both scrolls and bound books inside the rooms while desks allowed readers to work.
Why were the contents moved from the Ulpian Library in the early 4th century?
Staff moved contents to the Baths of Diocletian early in the 4th century possibly due to necessary repairs on the original site. Records show the contents were returned to the Forum at a later date during a period of political instability.
When did the Ulpian Library cease operations compared to other ancient libraries?
This library remained operational until the mid-fifth century while other ancient libraries perished earlier. It is the only Roman library known to have survived until the Fall of Rome after the destruction of the Library of Alexandria in the 3rd century.