The ancient library associated with the Library of Alexandria belonged to the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt. Founded in the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter, the library was part of a larger institution called the Mouseion, dedicated to the Muses and serving as a center for scholarly research and learning. The Library aimed to gather all the world's knowledge, housing many significant works in philosophy, science, and literature. It became emblematic of cultural and intellectual achievement in the ancient Hellenistic world. However, it suffered several destructions over the centuries, leading to the loss of countless manuscripts and knowledge.