Tiberius Julius Aquila Polemaeanus commissioned the library in the 110s CE in memory of his father, Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. It was completed under Hadrian after Aquila's death, with one source giving 110 to 120 and another 117 to 135. Fire destroyed the interior and contents in 262, caused by either an earthquake or a Gothic invasion, and an earthquake later damaged the facade.
The interior was a single rectangular room measuring 56 by 36 feet (17 by 11 m), with a central apse. Nine steps led up to three front entrances. The east-facing marble facade has paired Composite columns below and Corinthian columns above, and false perspective makes the building look larger.
Capacity is commonly cited as about 12,000 scrolls, or up to 16,000 with free-standing book boxes. The facade was re-erected from 1970 to 1978 under Volker Michael Strocka, and only the facade was rebuilt.
Comments