Euclid’s Elements, the oldest and longest-used textbook ever. It was actively used as a high school textbook up until the early 20th century, giving it a useful lifespan of 2200 years.
Old Testament
Iliad
Odyssey
Antigone
Oedipus
Republic
Analects of Confucius
Beowulf
Tale of Genji (often called the first novel, it’s turning 1000 years old right about now)
I once read a diary of a churchwarden from Acle, Norfolk, England that was written in 1421. And when I mean “diary written in 1421” I mean the actual diary. Even if I wasn’t using it for my dissertation I would have thought it was rather neat.
In translation, Gilgamesh.
In the original language, Beowulf, though I’m not sure how much that would count, since it’s not as though I was fluent. While I was able to grasp some on my own, I did have to keep checking other people’s translations and cross reference like a mofo. There wasn’t any project associated with it or scholarly study of Old English, though. It was purely for my own interest.
The Bible, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad.
Not sure which is older, Plato’s Republic or The Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle. I’ve also read the Rig Veda which dates from about 1500 BCE. Obviously the Bible as well but who hasn’t read that?
I’ve never read the whole thing, FWIW. And I’d say there are countless Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, etc etc who haven’t read it either…
I read this once, but it bored me to tears, and I really couldn’t get past antelope.
Wasn’t Aristotle Plato’s pupil? So without looking it up, I’m betting Plato’s Republic is older.
I’ve not read the Bible. No real interest in it.
The Bible
Caesar’s Gallic Wars
Beowulf
The Tale of Genji
You’re right he was, which makes *the Republic *older. That said the Rig Veda is older than both of them.
Gilgamesh, the Rg Veda, the Greek epics, (most of) the Bible …