Library of Philippopolis

The library of Philippopolis is one of the administrative buildings built in the Northern part of the Roman forum in Plovdiv. The rectangular-shaped building has an approximate width of 20m and length of 15m. The library's main purpose was storing manuscripts and scrolls but it was also used as a place for education, reading, public discussions and speeches. Philippopolis was among the few ancient towns which had a library.

Library of Philippopolis
The foundations of the library
Library of Philippopolis
Shown within Plovdiv City Center
LocationPlovdiv, Bulgaria
Coordinates42.143431°N 24.750206°E / 42.143431; 24.750206
Length15m
Width20m
History
Materialbricks
Founded2nd century AD

Location

The library has been found near General Gurko str. in the Northeastern corner of the Roman forum in Plovdiv, adjacent to the Roman odeon. The building of Plovdiv's central post office and the main pedestrian street of the city are located around the ancient monument.

The library
Part of the library is still hidden beneath modern buildings
Part of a series on the ancient city of
Philippopolis
Buildings and structures
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One of the most interesting features of the ancient library is the construction of interior walls. When constructing the Roman bricks masonry multiple niches were formed in the interior of the walls. Archeologists suggest that wooden storage cabinets were placed there in which scrolls were kept. The floor was paved with marble slabs.[1]

The library had an air circulation system in order to prevent humidity and moisture from damaging papyrus scrolls. Vertical clay pipes were embedded in the thick brick walls of the building to take the moisture out. They ended in a channel which was connected to the drainage system of the Roman forum.

Conservation and restoration

The library of Philippopolis was discovered in the 1980s during the archeological research in the central Plovdiv. Currently, the western part of the building is still hidden beneath modern buildings.

References
  1. "The Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis - Ancient Philippopolis - Ancient Philippopolis Map - Library". ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
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