Books BCE (121 books)

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 3.83 avg rating — 1,178,465 ratings score: 1,612, 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 — 504,534 ratings score: 1,593, 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 3.75 avg rating — 117,894 ratings score: 1,505, 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 — 129,286 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 3.95 avg rating — 563,466 ratings score: 1,010, 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 — 180,721 ratings score: 767, 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
7	The Republic by Plato 3.97 avg rating — 224,020 ratings score: 752, 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
8	The Histories by Herodotus 4.01 avg rating — 55,239 ratings score: 745, 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
9	The Aeneid by Virgil 3.87 avg rating — 142,227 ratings score: 738, 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	Oedipus Rex (The Theban Plays, #1) by Sophocles 3.73 avg rating — 235,679 ratings score: 733, 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	Poems and Fragments by Sappho 4.17 avg rating — 11,269 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
12	The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 59,176 ratings score: 655, 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	History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides 3.94 avg rating — 40,349 ratings score: 635, 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
14	The Symposium by Plato 4.09 avg rating — 88,612 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
15	Lysistrata by Aristophanes 3.87 avg rating — 53,061 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
16	The Conquest of Gaul by Gaius Julius Caesar 4.02 avg rating — 13,426 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
17	Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.68 avg rating — 174,715 ratings score: 537, 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
18	The Persian Expedition by Xenophon 4.11 avg rating — 9,796 ratings score: 535, 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	On the Nature of the Universe by Lucretius 3.97 avg rating — 14,414 ratings score: 499, 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
20	Enuma Elish: The Seven Tablets of the History of Creation by Unknown 3.83 avg rating — 1,694 ratings score: 470, 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	Medea by Euripides 3.95 avg rating — 86,356 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
22	The Analects by Confucius 3.80 avg rating — 23,872 ratings score: 449, 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	Conversations of Socrates by Xenophon 4.05 avg rating — 2,955 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
24	The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana by Mallanaga Vātsyāyana 3.45 avg rating — 6,855 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
25	The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome by Livy 3.96 avg rating — 9,833 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
26	The History of Rome, Books 6-10: Rome and Italy by Livy 4.15 avg rating — 1,521 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
27	The Bhagavad Gita by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa 4.19 avg rating — 80,847 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 3.55 avg rating — 207 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 3.83 avg rating — 11,242 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 — 7,179 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 4.14 avg rating — 71 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 3.52 avg rating — 33 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 — 3,239 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 3.71 avg rating — 7,429 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 3.91 avg rating — 64 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 3.51 avg rating — 1,340 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 4.09 avg rating — 389 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 — 475 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 — 3,881 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 3.54 avg rating — 37 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 Rise of the Roman Empire by Polybius 4.06 avg rating — 4,845 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
42	The Instructions of Shuruppak by Anonymous 3.52 avg rating — 131 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
43	Westcar Papyrus by Unknown 3.19 avg rating — 32 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
44	The Frogs by Aristophanes 3.78 avg rating — 9,249 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
45	The Laws of Plato by Plato 4.05 avg rating — 2,960 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
46	The Egyptian Book of the Dead by Anonymous 3.91 avg rating — 6,121 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 Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor by Unknown 3.42 avg rating — 57 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
48	Agememnon by Aeschylus 3.84 avg rating — 22,450 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
49	Politics by Aristotle 3.98 avg rating — 42,525 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
49	Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty II by Sima Qian 4.29 avg rating — 76 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
51	The Mahabharata (Mahabharata, #1) by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa 4.45 avg rating — 925 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
51	Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty by Sima Qian 4.34 avg rating — 216 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
53	The Complete Rig Veda [Unabridged] by Anonymous 3.92 avg rating — 1,726 ratings score: 176, 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 Kesh Temple Hymn by Unknown 2.99 avg rating — 74 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
55	Clouds by Aristophanes 3.61 avg rating — 11,696 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
56	Oedipus at Colonus (The Theban Plays, #2) by Sophocles 3.75 avg rating — 16,326 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
57	The History of Rome, Books 21-30: The War with Hannibal by Livy 4.15 avg rating — 3,765 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
58	Tusculan Disputations by Marcus Tullius Cicero 4.04 avg rating — 518 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
59	Theogony by Hesiod 3.72 avg rating — 6,556 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
60	Ishtar's Descent into the Underworld by Anonymous 4.19 avg rating — 27 ratings score: 155, 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	Complete Jewish Bible : An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'Rit Hadashah by Anonymous 4.50 avg rating — 1,443 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
62	Records of the Grand Historian: Han Dynasty I by Sima Qian 4.18 avg rating — 143 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
63	The Bacchae by Euripides 3.94 avg rating — 25,108 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
64	Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna by Enheduanna 4.22 avg rating — 383 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
65	The Upanishads by Anonymous 4.25 avg rating — 17,576 ratings score: 140, 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	The maxims of Ptah-hotep: Humankind's earliest wisdom literature by Ptah-Hotep 4.16 avg rating — 452 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
67	Electra by Sophocles 3.82 avg rating — 14,133 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
68	The Reforms of Urukagina by Urukagina 3.33 avg rating — 21 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
69	The Atra-Hasis: The Babylonian Story of the Flood by Anonymous 3.78 avg rating — 178 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
70	Lipit-Ishtar Code by Lipit-Ishtar 3.15 avg rating — 13 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
71	The Misadventures of Wenamun by Anonymous 3.20 avg rating — 15 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
72	The Eridu Genesis by Unknown 3.48 avg rating — 33 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
73	Ajax by Sophocles 3.92 avg rating — 6,970 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
74	The I Ching or Book of Changes by Anonymous 4.19 avg rating — 20,620 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
74	The Book of Songs: The Ancient Chinese Classic of Poetry by Arthur Waley (Translator) 3.97 avg rating — 293 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
74	The Dhammapada by Anonymous 4.27 avg rating — 30,903 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
77	The Tale of the Poor Man of Nippur by Baruch Ottervanger (Editor) 3.74 avg rating — 34 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
77	Heroides by Ovid 4.12 avg rating — 3,778 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
79	Medea & Bakchanten by Euripides 4.05 avg rating — 109 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
80	Cyclops by Euripides 3.58 avg rating — 1,433 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
81	Philippics (Cicero, Vol 15) by Marcus Tullius Cicero 3.80 avg rating — 236 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
81	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
81	The Persians by Aeschylus 3.49 avg rating — 403 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
81	The Ramayana by Vālmīki 4.07 avg rating — 13,170 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
85	The legend of Etana by J.V. Kinnier Wilson (contributor) 3.43 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
86	Enmerkar and The Lord of Aratta by Unknown 3.52 avg rating — 54 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
86	Mencius by Mencius 3.84 avg rating — 1,926 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
88	O Banquete by Plato 4.09 avg rating — 88,612 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
89	The Code of Ur-Nammu by Ur-Nammu 3.40 avg rating — 20 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
90	Poética by Aristotle 3.83 avg rating — 29,191 ratings score: 85, 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	Mênon (Bibliotheca Antiqua, #1) by Plato 3.92 avg rating — 10,238 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
92	Voices from Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings by R.B. Parkinson 4.30 avg rating — 30 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
93	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
94	Electra by Euripides 3.95 avg rating — 8,339 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
95	The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant (Griffith Institute Publications) by Unknown 3.67 avg rating — 75 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
96	The Marriage of Nergal and Ereshkigal by Anonymous 3.31 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
97	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
98	Der Krieg Mit Jugurtha / Bellum Iugurthinum by Sallust 3.66 avg rating — 204 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
99	The Laws of Eshnunna by Unknown 3.42 avg rating — 12 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
100	Dispute Between a Man and His Ba by Unknown 3.93 avg rating — 54 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

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121 books · 28 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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BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) 5441 books
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Comments Showing 1-19 of 19 (19 new)

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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