Mostafa El-Abbadi: Reviving Alexandria's Great Library

Mostafa El-Abbadi was a famous Egyptian historian and teacher who was an expert in the history of ancient Greece and Rome.

He was born on October 10, 1928, in Cairo, Egypt, and died on February 13, 2017, in Alexandria. People saw him as the top Egyptian expert on ancient Greece and Rome. He was famous for bringing back the Great Library of Alexandria, which led to the creation of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

El-Abbadi did well in his studies and work. He finished his studies at the University of Alexandria, got a Ph.D. in old history, and taught there too. He also had important roles in groups like the Archaeological Society of Alexandria and advised UNESCO.

His biggest achievement was helping to bring back the Great Library of Alexandria. This project, which he started in the 1970s, was made real by working with the Egyptian government, UNESCO, and other groups. The new library, which opened in 2002, is a big, beautiful building that can hold 8 million books and is next to the Mediterranean Sea.

El-Abbadi's influence goes beyond his study and ideas. He was married to Azza Kararah, a literary critic and scholar. His father, Abdel-Hamid El-Abbadi, was a historian and the first dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alexandria. El-Abbadi is remembered and praised for his work in keeping and growing knowledge, especially about ancient Greece and Rome.

Mostafa El-Abbadi was very important in bringing back the Great Library of Alexandria, leading to the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Here's what he did:

• He was a well-known Egyptian historian with a big interest in the Library of Alexandria. He studied at the University of Alexandria and got a Ph.D. in old history.

• El-Abbadi talked a lot about the Library of Alexandria, gave lectures worldwide, and wrote books like "While" and "Life and Fate of the Ancient Library of Alexandria."

• He had a big idea for the new Great Library of Alexandria, called the "Bibliotheca Alexandrina." He wanted to build a new library to keep all the knowledge in the world as the old library did.

• El-Abbadi worked with the Egyptian government, UNESCO, and other groups to make his idea come true. They started building the library in 1988, and it opened in 2002 with room for eight million books.

• The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a big, beautiful, and modern building that can use three languages and shows El-Abbadi's dream and hard work to keep and grow knowledge.

Mostafa El-Abbadi's Educational Background

Mostafa El-Abbadi was a highly educated man. He initially attended the University of Alexandria for his college studies. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, he received a special opportunity from the Egyptian government to pursue further education in England.

He enrolled at the University of Cambridge, a renowned institution, where he obtained another degree known as a special BA and completed a Ph.D. in ancient history. His Ph.D. signifies extensive study and research on ancient times, particularly focusing on ancient Greece and Rome.

His Contributions to Greco-Roman Studies

El-Abbadi did many important things in his study of Greco-Roman history:

1. Expert Work: He was the top expert in Egypt on Greco-Roman history and did a lot of good research in this area.

2. Dream of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina: He had a big dream to make a new version of the old Library of Alexandria. This dream became true with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which helped keep and share knowledge about ancient Greece and Rome.

3. Teaching Role: He taught about Greco-Roman history at the University of Alexandria. He was very knowledgeable about the Library of Alexandria and was a respected teacher.

4. Public Speaking and Writing: El-Abbadi traveled around the world giving talks and wrote important books like "Life and Fate of the Ancient Library of Alexandria" about the old library.

Mostafa El-Abbadi's Personal Life

Mostafa El-Abbadi was born in Cairo, Egypt, on October 10, 1928, and died in Alexandria on February 13, 2017. He was 88 years old. His interest in studying started when he was young, influenced by his dad, who started the College of Letters and Arts at the University of Alexandria. El-Abbadi was married to Azza Kararah, who was also a smart person who studied and wrote about literature. His life was mostly about studying and wanting to know more, especially about the Greco-Roman world and the Library of Alexandria.

Did Mostafa El-Abbadi Have Any Hobbies or Interests Outside of Academia?

While Mostafa El-Abbadi was primarily dedicated to his academic pursuits, particularly in the field of Greco-Roman history and the revival of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, there is limited information available about his personal hobbies or interests outside of academia. El-Abbadi's significant contributions were centered around his scholarly endeavors, including research, teaching, and advocacy for the preservation of historical knowledge.

As the top expert in Egypt on Greco-Roman history, El-Abbadi's focus was on scholarly activities, and his public engagements revolved around sharing his knowledge and passion for the ancient Library of Alexandria.