Ancient centre of Classical learning at Alexandria , Egypt.
It was a research institute, organized into faculties and headed by a president-priest, with a renowned library. It was built near the royal palace either by Ptolemy II Philadelphus 0441; 280 BC or by his father, Ptolemy I Soter . The best surviving description is by Strabo . In AD 270 its buildings were destroyed, although its educational and research functions seem to have continued until the 5th century.