Background:

This recording is divided into two parts. The first part is mainly about the revival of the Ancient Library of the Alexandria Project, how the idea has started, the varying project phases, funds, the role of the UNESCO and the main features of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The second part is about the Underwater Excavation Project led by the Hilti Foundation in Alexandria in collaboration with the Egyptian government.

Side A:

The idea of building the new Bibliotheca of Alexandria began in 1973 by two professors at Alexandria University; Dr. Muṣṭafa al-ʿAbadī, and Dr. Luṭfī Diwīdār. The University decided to create a committee to follow this idea. Dr. Luṭfī Diwīdār stayed within the University of Alexandria until 1984. Dr. Farīd Muṣṭafa, the head of the University of Alexandria from the 1984 to 1987?) decided to create another committee with Dr. Diwīdār with Dr. al-ʿAbadī as chairman. The interviewee was a member of this committee. Dr.Diwīdār took the decision to allocate a location for this project. He realized that the budget would not be sufficient and thus an effort was made for national and international financial support, including the UNESCO.

The international executive committee of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina represents many countries including Norway, France, United Kingdom, and several Arab countries. The Egyptian government dedicated 65 million to the project plus the land in a key location on the corniche in Alexandria. 350 thousand book acquisitions were already made to the date of this recording, in the form of electronic and conventional books. Thus, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain donated the Escorial collection of Arab scholars in Spain which includes books of Avicenna and Averroes. Many other countries are contributing differently; France is providing a new information system, Norway is supporting the Library through furniture and Japan through audiovisual equipment, etc.

A question was asked in Arabic by a man called Mr. Muṣṭafa al-Shāfʿī about the difference between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and other libraries. He was told that its uniqueness comes from the fact that the library is more than just a library as it includes a research center that serves African and Mediterranean countries. Therefore, the most important features of the project are its own institute for documentation, a planetarium, a museum and a conference center. Information was also added concerning a beautiful mosaic that was found during excavations prior to laying the foundation. The mosaic was in restoration at the time of the interview.

Regarding the form of the building, the speaker indicated that it has many symbols since Alexandria was built in layers which reflect time, therefore the half circle that shapes the Bibliotheca represent the sun coming out from the past and facing the future. The sun of course, has its symbolism in ancient Egypt.

A man working for the underwater excavation project in Alexandria is asked to comment on the recent progress. The man has a very heavy French accent and it is sometimes difficult to make sense of what is being said. He mentions that the people working on the project have excavated the area up to seven meters deep. They have found evidence of pollution, two meters below the surface or so, but the man says the levels of pollution were not that bad. Additionally, there are many different people working on the project, including several Egyptologists, Greek/Roman specialists and trained students.