Page:Biblical Libraries (Richardson).djvu/270

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

BIBLICAL LIBRARIES

tale of the great public libraries of Rome as commonly told to an end. It is said (Clark p. 19) to have been "apparently the Public Records office of Rome." At least it contained many public records and belongs, with the Liberty library, the Peace library and the others, in this regard. It was in Trajan's Forum and the scant remains of it are among the most interesting of library ruins. It was double, Greek and Latin, with room or portico between.

The library of Hadrian at Athens lies near the Roman forum and formed a great quadrangular portico 400 feet long and 470 feet wide. On the far side from the entering portico was a series of rooms, a large one in the center and variously divided rooms at the corners. Near the large room there were symbolical statues of the Iliad and Odyssey. It has been surmised that this large room was for the storage of books but the general

[216]