Alexandrian Museum, also called the Museum, or Museum of Alexandria, Greek Mouseion (“Seat of the Muses”), ancient centre of classical learning at Alexandria in Egypt. A research institute that was especially noted for its scientific and literary scholarship, the Alexandrian Museum was built near the royal palace about the 3rd century bce possibly by Ptolemy I Soter (reigned 323–285/283 bce). The best surviving description of the museum is by the Greek geographer and historian Strabo, who mentions that it was a large complex of buildings and gardens with richly decorated lecture and banquet halls linked by porticos, or colonnaded walks.