Ebla to E-Books: The Preservation and Annihilation of Memory.
A FREE Substack by 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧̃𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤
Fra. Girolamo Savonarola’s image is the logo for this Substack. In 1495 his bonfire of the vanities included books, paintings, and musical instruments.1
The city of Ebla was set on fire by Akkadian invaders in 2300 BC, razing its royal palace and burning thousands of texts in the kingdom’s library. This seems to be the oldest library destruction of which we know.2
The preservation and annihilation of books, ideas, and free expression is the topic of this Substack.
Key sources:
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Wellisch, Hans H. (1981). "Ebla: The World's Oldest Library". The Journal of Library History. University of Texas Press. 16 (3)
Zittrain, Jonathan (June 30, 2021). “The Internet Is Rotting: Too much has been lost already. The glue that holds humanity’s knowledge together is coming undone.” The Atlantic.
Edited by Kathleen de la Peña McCook, School of Information, University of South Florida.
Martines, L (2006). Fire in the City: Savonarola and the Struggle for the Soul of Renaissance Florence. Oxford University Press. [Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498), born in Ferrara. Inspired by an aversion for worldly things, and the highest religious ideals, he condemned first the corrupt way of life of Florence then the church hierarchy in Rome. Ignoring numerous reprimands and contemptuous of danger, he was condemned to death: together with his fellow friars, Domenico da Pescia and Silvestro Maruffi, he was hanged and burnt in Piazza Signoria on 23 May 1498.]
Wellisch, Hans H. (1981). "Ebla: The World's Oldest Library". The Journal of Library History. University of Texas Press. 16 (3)
