White, Joseph; White, Joseph [Hrsg.]: Aegyptiaca, or observations on certain antiquities of Egypt (Band 1): The history of Pompey's pillar elucidated (Oxford, 1801)

PART I.

^EGYPTIACA.

45

nefs in collecting booksp, could not have been a fmall
and inconfiderable portion of the whole ftru&ure : it
probably comprehended one fide or more of thofe mag-
nificent courts, which excited the admiration of Ammia-
nus Marcellinus. We mutt therefore allow it to be
highly probable, that the edifice in its utmoft extent, if
not originally planned, was at leaf! finifhed by Ptolemy
Philadelphus.

After the death of Philadelphus, the kingdom of the
Ptolemies declined, if not in ftrength and opulence, at
leaft in the character and abilities of its monarchs. The
genius of this Prince might indeed continue to operate
after his deceafe ; and fome of his great defigns might
ffill be carried on by the force and direction, which they
originally derived from him. And in truth fome authors
contend, that Euergetes and other fucceeding princes
fupplied the treafures with which the library was Pored:
an affertion very probable, if reftrained to the increafe
and additions, which from time to time it might receive
at their hands. But hiftory, which exhibits a difgufting
recital of their luxury and profligacy, has recorded no

p Athenaeus fpeaking of Neleus, as the fortunate poffeffor of Ariftotle’s

library, adds,-

t£ tov tpiXoirotpov, xai tci/ touts SiaTtigyirxi/TOi (3i6Aias

N>iA£a'J zzx{? a tzxvto. <pn<r) zreux pivot o ypiSxTrot (SatriXivt TlToXipouot, <S>iXocSiX(po<;
S' iTrixAnv, [AtTci t011/ ’ASAtiS'ei' Jtai ruv cliro ‘Pods, tit tHv y.otXr,v ’AXt%a.vSoiia,v ptTyyxyt,

Edit. Dalechamp. p. 3.