Library Timgad

view of timgad ruins

the library @ timgad gift roman people julius quintianus flavius rogatianus @ cost of 400,000 sesterces. no additional information benefactor has been unearthed, precise date of library s construction remains uncertain. based on remaining archaeological evidence, has been suggested scholars dates late 3rd or possibly 4th century. library occupies rectangle 81 feet (24.69 meters) long 77 feet (23.47 meters) wide. consists of large semi-circular room flanked 2 secondary rectangular rooms, , preceded u-shaped colonnaded portico surrounding 3 sides on open court. portico flanked 2 long narrow rooms on each side, , large vaulted hall have combined functions of reading room, stack room, , perhaps lecture room. oblong alcoves held wooden shelves along walls have been complete sides, backs, , doors, based on additional evidence found @ library @ ephesus. possible free-standing bookcases in center of room, reading desk, might have been present. while architecture of library @ timgad not remarkable, discovery of library historically important shows presence of developed library system in roman city, indicating high standard of learning , culture. while there no evidence size of collection library harbored, estimated have accommodated 3,000 scrolls.