One of the principle myths surrounding Alamût involves the Library, which supposedly contained over 200,000 voumes on a myriad of subjects including political power, philosophy, religion and the control of spirits. When the Mongols invaded Alamut, record show that they were suprised at the number of books and scientific instruments that they found. In the summer of 1973, Brion Gysin visited Alamût and stated that "It wasn't big enough to put away 200 packets of vitamin B-1 ...". The Library of Alamût which was lost in the mongol invasion of 1256 was either stored in another manner or did not exist of this world.