The burning of the Egyptian ships in this action, however fortunate for Cleopatra and Caesar, was attended with a catastrophe which has ever since been lamented by the whole civilized world.  Some of the burning ships were driven by the wind to the shore, where they set fire to the buildings which were contiguous to the water.  The flames spread and produced an extensive conflagration, in the course of which the largest part of the great library was destroyed.  This library was the only general collection of the ancient writings that ever had been made, and the loss of it was never repaired.

The destruction of the Egyptian fleet resulted also in the downfall and ruin of Achillas.  From the time of Arsinoe’s arrival in the camp there had been a constant rivalry and jealousy between himself and Ganymede, the eunuch who had accompanied Arsinoe in her flight.  Two parties had been formed in the army, some declaring for Achillas and some for Ganymede.  Arsinoe advocated Ganymede’s interests, and when, at length, the fleet was burned, she charged Achillas with having been, by his neglect or incapacity, the cause of the loss.  Achillas was tried, condemned, and beheaded.  From that time Ganymede assumed the administration of Arsinoe’s government as her minister of state and the commander-in-chief of her armies.

About the time that these occurrences took place, the Egyptian army advanced into those parts of the city from which Caesar had withdrawn, producing those terrible scenes of panic and confusion which always attend a sudden and violent change of military possession within the precincts of a city.  Ganymede brought up his troops on every side to the walls of Caesar’s citadels and intrenchments, and hemmed him closely in.  He cut off all avenues of approach to Caesar’s lines by land, and commenced vigorous preparations for an assault.  He constructed engines for battering down the walls.  He opened shops and established forges in every part of the city for the manufacture of darts, spears, pikes, and all kinds of military machinery.  He built towers supported upon huge wheels, with the design of filling them with armed men when finally ready to make his assault upon Caesar’s lines, and moving them up to the walls of the citadels and palaces, so as to give to his soldiers the advantage of a lofty elevation in making their attacks.  He levied contributions on the rich citizens for the necessary funds, and provided himself with men by pressing all the artisans, laborers, and men capable of bearing arms into his service.  He sent messengers back into the interior of the country, in every direction, summoning the people to arms, and calling for contributions of money and military stores.