Books BCE (121 books)

Listopia > Books BCE

Books that were written before the common era, before 0 AD.
In ancient Greece and Rome, but also in for instance China, Mesopotamia, Egypt or India.

So, take care not to add books that have not originally been published (well, seen the light) before 0 AD. If you have doubts, do drop me a line via the comments.

Please add only single titles. So not: 'The complete works of Plato' , or a book with several plays of Plautus, because that way doubles will crop up in the list, as these ancient text have been gathered in all sorts of combinations. If you add only single titles, this problem will not occur. Thank you!

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Odyssey by Homer 3.84 avg rating — 1,232,360 ratings score: 1,613, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Iliad by Homer 3.93 avg rating — 525,410 ratings score: 1,592, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous 3.76 avg rating — 122,122 ratings score: 1,506, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Aesop’s Fables by Aesop 4.05 avg rating — 130,644 ratings score: 1,063, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Art of War by Sun Tzu 3.94 avg rating — 588,653 ratings score: 1,009, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu 4.29 avg rating — 186,341 ratings score: 863, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Republic by Plato 3.97 avg rating — 230,597 ratings score: 847, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Histories by Herodotus 4.01 avg rating — 56,778 ratings score: 839, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 62,472 ratings score: 747, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Aeneid by Virgil 3.88 avg rating — 146,838 ratings score: 735, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides 3.95 avg rating — 41,264 ratings score: 726, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Poems and Fragments by Sappho 4.16 avg rating — 11,735 ratings score: 667, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Oedipus Rex (The Theban Plays, #1) by Sophocles 3.73 avg rating — 241,762 ratings score: 638, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Analects by Confucius 3.80 avg rating — 24,580 ratings score: 638, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Symposium by Plato 4.09 avg rating — 93,654 ratings score: 632, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Lysistrata by Aristophanes 3.86 avg rating — 54,453 ratings score: 592, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	On the Nature of the Universe by Lucretius 3.97 avg rating — 14,826 ratings score: 589, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Conquest of Gaul by Gaius Julius Caesar 4.02 avg rating — 13,876 ratings score: 553, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Medea by Euripides 3.96 avg rating — 89,794 ratings score: 457, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Conversations of Socrates by Xenophon 4.04 avg rating — 3,038 ratings score: 446, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Antigone (Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.69 avg rating — 181,642 ratings score: 444, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Persian Expedition by Xenophon 4.11 avg rating — 10,171 ratings score: 444, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana by Mallanaga Vātsyāyana 3.45 avg rating — 6,990 ratings score: 433, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome by Livy 3.96 avg rating — 10,008 ratings score: 402, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The History of Rome, Books 6-10: Rome and Italy by Livy 4.16 avg rating — 1,553 ratings score: 400, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Enuma Elish: The Seven Tablets of the History of Creation by Unknown 3.82 avg rating — 1,801 ratings score: 380, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Bhagavad Gita by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa 4.19 avg rating — 83,621 ratings score: 365, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Story of Sinuhe by Unknown 3.58 avg rating — 237 ratings score: 316, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Voyage of Argo by Apollonius of Rhodes 3.82 avg rating — 11,701 ratings score: 313, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Civil War by Gaius Julius Caesar 4.07 avg rating — 7,322 ratings score: 305, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Princess, Priestess, Poet: The Sumerian Temple Hymns of Enheduanna by Enheduanna 4.16 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 293, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Lament for Ur by Anonymous 3.50 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 286, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Book of Chuang Tzu by Zhuangzi 4.35 avg rating — 3,406 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Art of Love by Ovid 3.69 avg rating — 7,842 ratings score: 254, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts by James P. Allen 3.92 avg rating — 66 ratings score: 252, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Code of Hammurabi by Hammurabi 3.52 avg rating — 1,391 ratings score: 252, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Writings from Ancient Egypt by Anonymous 4.08 avg rating — 407 ratings score: 242, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The History of Rome, Books 31-45: Rome and the Mediterranean by Livy 4.18 avg rating — 491 ratings score: 241, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus 3.73 avg rating — 4,135 ratings score: 233, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Debate Between Bird and Fish by Unknown . 3.61 avg rating — 38 ratings score: 229, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Upanishads by Anonymous 4.26 avg rating — 18,052 ratings score: 228, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Rise of the Roman Empire by Polybius 4.06 avg rating — 4,916 ratings score: 223, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Instructions of Shuruppak by Anonymous 3.52 avg rating — 135 ratings score: 203, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Westcar Papyrus by Unknown 3.38 avg rating — 39 ratings score: 199, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Frogs by Aristophanes 3.78 avg rating — 9,597 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Laws of Plato by Plato 4.05 avg rating — 3,013 ratings score: 187, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Egyptian Book of the Dead by Anonymous 3.91 avg rating — 6,352 ratings score: 186, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The I Ching or Book of Changes by Anonymous 4.19 avg rating — 21,028 ratings score: 186, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor by Unknown 3.46 avg rating — 61 ratings score: 185, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Dhammapada by Anonymous 4.27 avg rating — 31,753 ratings score: 185, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Agememnon by Aeschylus 3.84 avg rating — 23,180 ratings score: 181, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Politics by Aristotle 3.98 avg rating — 43,585 ratings score: 180, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty II by Sima Qian 4.29 avg rating — 79 ratings score: 180, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Mahabharata (Mahabharata, #1) by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa 4.45 avg rating — 980 ratings score: 178, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty by Sima Qian 4.38 avg rating — 220 ratings score: 178, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Poética by Aristotle 3.83 avg rating — 30,480 ratings score: 170, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Kesh Temple Hymn by Unknown 2.97 avg rating — 75 ratings score: 166, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Clouds by Aristophanes 3.61 avg rating — 12,078 ratings score: 164, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Oedipus at Colonus (The Theban Plays, #2) by Sophocles 3.75 avg rating — 16,991 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The History of Rome, Books 21-30: The War with Hannibal by Livy 4.15 avg rating — 3,800 ratings score: 162, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Tusculan Disputations by Marcus Tullius Cicero 4.05 avg rating — 560 ratings score: 158, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Theogony by Hesiod 3.72 avg rating — 6,911 ratings score: 156, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Complete Jewish Bible : An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'Rit Hadashah by Anonymous 4.50 avg rating — 1,452 ratings score: 153, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty I by Sima Qian 4.19 avg rating — 147 ratings score: 149, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Bacchae by Euripides 3.94 avg rating — 26,202 ratings score: 147, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna by Enheduanna 4.22 avg rating — 408 ratings score: 142, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The maxims of Ptah-hotep: Humankind's earliest wisdom literature by Ptah-Hotep 4.15 avg rating — 473 ratings score: 128, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Electra by Sophocles 3.82 avg rating — 14,600 ratings score: 125, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	The Reforms of Urukagina by Urukagina 3.32 avg rating — 22 ratings score: 122, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	The Atra-Hasis: The Babylonian Story of the Flood by Anonymous 3.77 avg rating — 205 ratings score: 121, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Lipit-Ishtar Code by Lipit-Ishtar 3.14 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 112, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Misadventures of Wenamun by Anonymous 3.29 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 109, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Eridu Genesis by Unknown . 3.50 avg rating — 38 ratings score: 102, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Ajax by Sophocles 3.92 avg rating — 7,303 ratings score: 100, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Book of Songs: The Ancient Chinese Classic of Poetry by Arthur Waley (Translator) 3.98 avg rating — 311 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Tale of the Poor Man of Nippur by Baruch Ottervanger (Editor) 3.76 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Heroides by Ovid 4.12 avg rating — 3,905 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Medea & Bakchanten by Euripides 4.05 avg rating — 110 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Cyclops by Euripides 3.58 avg rating — 1,525 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Philippics (Cicero, Vol 15) by Marcus Tullius Cicero 3.77 avg rating — 245 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Curse of Agade by Jerrold S. Cooper 3.44 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Persians by Aeschylus 3.47 avg rating — 430 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Ramayana by Vālmīki 4.08 avg rating — 12,730 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	The legend of Etana by J.V. Kinnier Wilson (contributor) 3.48 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Enmerkar and The Lord of Aratta by Unknown 3.51 avg rating — 59 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Mencius by Mencius 3.85 avg rating — 1,997 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	O Banquete by Plato 4.09 avg rating — 93,654 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Code of Ur-Nammu by Ur-Nammu 3.52 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Complete Rig Veda [Unabridged] by Anonymous 3.92 avg rating — 1,758 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Mênon (Bibliotheca Antiqua, #1) by Plato 3.92 avg rating — 10,660 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Voices from Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings by R.B. Parkinson 4.32 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Loyalist Instructions by Vizier to Kairsu 3.33 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Electra by Euripides 3.95 avg rating — 8,683 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant (Griffith Institute Publications) by Unknown 3.65 avg rating — 77 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	The Marriage of Nergal and Ereshkigal by Anonymous 3.38 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Code of the Nesilim by Anonymous really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Der Krieg Mit Jugurtha / Bellum Iugurthinum by Sallust 3.66 avg rating — 208 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	The Laws of Eshnunna by Unknown 3.38 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Dispute Between a Man and His Ba by Unknown 3.88 avg rating — 102 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	The Autobiography of Kurigalzu by Kurigalzu I 2.20 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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121 books · 29 voters · list created August 9th, 2017 by Emma (votes) .

Tags: ancient-books, ancient-china, ancient-history, ancient-india, ancient-text, antiquity, bc, bce, before-christ, before-the-common-era, classical-antiquity, classics, egypt, mesopotamia, roman-republic

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Emma 6690 books
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message 1: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 09, 2017 05:58AM) (new)

Aug 09, 2017 05:51AM

@Emma
Your description says: "There are many books written before the common era, before 0 AD. It's difficult to find them all."

#28, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb: A Short Story by Agatha Christie, is definitely not one of them... And there are a couple of others as well on this list which don't date BC, even though they mention a period dating BC, as they are history books. So either delete the books or adapt your description, I'd say.

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message 2: by Emma (new)

Aug 09, 2017 05:59AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "The description says: "There are many books written before the common era, before 0 AD. It's difficult to find them all."

#28, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb: A Short Story by..."

How can I delete books?

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message 3: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 09, 2017 06:14AM) (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:03AM

Emma wrote: "How can I delete books? ..."

Maybe you can't, even if it's your Listopia. I can anyway, as I am a librarian. Do you see '(edit)' straight after your description? If so, click on it and it'll allow you to delete books. If not, let me know which books you'd like deleted and I'll delete them for you.

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message 4: by Emma (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:15AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Emma wrote: "How can I delete books? ..."

Maybe you can't, even if it's your Listopia. I can anyway, as I am a librarian. Do you see the word 'edit' straight after your description? If so, click o..."

I deleted Agatha, that was a mistake of mine.
What other books do you think are not (an edition of) a BCE book?

The book I'd like to delete but can't, is The Bible. As the whole of the New Testament is written AD. It has to be. That's what AD stands for. So the Old testament, or the Torah or something like that, or The Book of Job have a place in this list, but The Bible as a whole not imho. Can you help me out there?

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message 5: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Aug 09, 2017 06:29AM) (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:24AM

@Emma
I've added the Bible, because as I wrote in the 'Why you added this book' box, the Old Testament dates BC. I can't (well I can of course, but I won't) add a book I don't have on my shelves, and as the Old Testament dates from the right period...

As to the history books, leave them on the list; I checked the ones I had my doubts about and they seem to be anthologies of ancient texts (I recognized the name of the author, and he was definitely not born BC... ).

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message 6: by Emma (last edited Aug 09, 2017 06:33AM) (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:30AM

Yes they are anthologies of ancient texts. It's the one of the few ways hieroglyphic texts are available, currently.

Could you please remove the Bible? I'll take care the old testament will be added.

Edit: added the Jewish bible

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message 7: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:32AM

Emma wrote: "Could you please remove the Bible ..."

Done.

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message 8: by Emma (new)

Aug 09, 2017 06:35AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "Emma wrote: "Could you please remove the Bible ..."

Done."

Thank you!

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message 9: by Emma (last edited Jul 17, 2018 11:37PM) (new)

Jul 17, 2018 11:26PM

Booklovinglady wrote: "@Emma
Your description says: "There are many books written before the common era, before 0 AD. It's difficult to find them all."

#28, [book:The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb: A Short Story|18998..."

You are quite right. No AD books should be added here.
Now, someone added Arabian Nights in Dutch (Verhalen uit duizend en een nacht (#1 of 16)) which is from 800 AD or thereabouts, after the start of Islam in any case.
Unfortunately I cannot remove them myself (despite being a librarian).

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message 10: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 18, 2018 10:01AM) (new)

Jul 18, 2018 04:30AM

Emma wrote: "Now, someone added Arabian Nights in Dutch (Verhalen uit duizend en een nacht (#1 of 16)) which is from 800 AD or thereabouts, after the start of Islam in any case...."

It was me, as I own the books. According to the Dutch Wikipedia, some of its stories are older than our Christian calendar.... In other words, before AD. But I've removed it anyway.

But what about The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana (#62)? According to GR it was published in 400 AD (but I'm guessing this is not correct?). And Metamorphoses (#43) was first published in 8 AD, according to GR.

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message 11: by Emma (last edited Jul 18, 2018 07:09AM) (new)

Jul 18, 2018 07:01AM

Thank you!

The Kama Sutra is a difficult one, with dates varying from 400 BCE to 200 AD, the jury is still out on that one. I'm not enough of an expert to make a judgment, or feel that I can justly ask to have it removed. What is wisdom?

Regarding Metamorphoses you are quite right! It is 8 AD. I put it in there myself *headdesk* but I cannot remove it as people have voted for it. Can you? Please.

While you are at it, would you mind removing "The Mark of Wu" from the list as well? It is published in 2018. Maybe it's subject matter is BCE, but the book definitely is not.

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message 12: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 18, 2018 08:40AM) (new)

Jul 18, 2018 08:33AM

Emma wrote: "Regarding Metamorphoses you are quite right! It is 8 AD. I put it in there myself *headdesk* but I cannot remove it as people have voted for it. Can you? Please.

While you are at it, would you mind removing "The Mark of Wu" from the list as well? It is published in 2018. Maybe it's subject matter is BCE, but the book definitely is not. ..."

Metamorphoses has been removed.

As to The Mark of Wu, it has been deleted also, as per your request :-)

You should be able to remove books yourself, as you are a librarian. Just click on 'edit' at the end of the list's description and then click on 'remove particular books' at the bottom.

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message 13: by Emma (new)

Jul 18, 2018 09:43AM

Booklovinglady wrote: "You should be able to remove books yourself, as you are a librarian. Just click on 'edit' at the end of the list's description and then click on 'remove particular books' at the bottom."
OMG!
Wow. Yes, I can.
Thanks for making the changes, and THANKS for pointing that out.
Much appreciated.

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message 14: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Jul 18, 2018 09:48AM) (new)

Jul 18, 2018 09:47AM

Emma wrote: "OMG!
Wow. Yes, I can.
Thanks for making the changes, and THANKS for pointing that out.
Much appreciated ..."

Glad to be of help :-) Don't forget to mention in the comment section any books you might delete (preferably with a link to the title)

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message 15: by André (new)

Apr 14, 2020 08:19PM

Added some books or plays from BCE from my read list.

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message 16: by Emma (new)

Apr 18, 2020 07:36AM

André wrote: "Added some books or plays from BCE from my read list."

Glad the list has helped! :)

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message 17: by Emma (last edited Jan 03, 2022 06:15AM) (new)

Jan 03, 2022 06:09AM

I rremoved "Het verhaal van Orestes / Agamemnom / Dodenoffer / Goede geesten", as that does not conform to the dictum: one title only to prevent doubles because ancient texts have been gathered in so many combinations that allowing multiple texts to enter this list would be unusable.

The same goes for the entry of "Oidipous & Antigone". Thise are two listings that require two entries in this list. And as you see, both Oedipus books have already been entered.

And for " Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo". The number of combinations of Plato's work is incredible. To prevent doubles, no combinations are allowed in this particular list.

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message 18: by Lennart (new)

Jan 27, 2023 11:17PM