A room in the Roman villa of Fuente Alamo, which for decades was considered a sanctuary of the god Mithras, has received a new interpretation. Researchers from the University of Granada claim that the so-called “Room 10” was actually a private library. If the conclusion is confirmed, it is the oldest documented library on the Iberian Peninsula and the most western such structure in the entire Roman Empire. This is reported by Arkeo News.
It is almost impossible to recognize ancient libraries archaeologically: papyrus or parchment scrolls, as well as wooden shelves and cabinets, do not survive the centuries, so scientists are left with only the walls and layout.
To get around this obstacle, the researchers used the “grammar of forms” method. They analyzed not an individual detail, but how the elements of the structure are connected to each other, and compared them with the stable schemes of famous Roman libraries.