A lost work is a document or literary work produced some time in the past of which no surviving copies are known to exist. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Works may be lost to history either through the destruction of the original manuscript, or through the non-survival of any copies of the work. Deliberate destruction of works may be termed literary crime or literary vandalism. In some cases fragments may survive, either found by archaeology, or sometimes reused as bookbinding materials, or because they are quoted in other works. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a Book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of Paper or other material The most famous recent example of an original or early manuscript is the discovery of the Archimedes palimpsest hidden in a much later prayer book. The Archimedes Palimpsest is a Palimpsest on Parchment in the form of a Codex which originally was a copy of an otherwise unknown work of the ancient Most of the missing works are described by works or compilations which fortunately have survived, such as the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder or the De Architectura by Vitruvius. Naturalis Historia ( Latin for "Natural History" is an Encyclopedia written Circa AD 77 by Pliny the Elder. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author De architectura ( Latin: "On architecture" is a treatise on Architecture written by the Roman Architect Vitruvius Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born c 80–70 BC died after c 15 BC was a Roman Writer, Architect and Engineer (possibly praefectus fabrum Often authors wanted to destroy their own works, or instructed others to do so after their deaths, and we are fortunate that such action was not taken in several well-known cases, such as Virgil's Aeneid saved by Augustus and Kafka's novels saved by Max Brod. Publius Vergilius Maro ( October 15, 70 BCE &ndash September 21, 19 BCE later called Virgilius, and known in English as Virgil or For the group of nine Ancient Egyptian deities see Ennead. The Aeneid (əˈniːɪd in Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Max Brod ( May 27, 1884 – December 20, 1968) was an Austrian - Jewish Author, Composer, and Journalist Many works were apparently lost when the Library at Alexandria was burnt down in the Roman period, or perhaps later. The Royal Library of Alexandria or Ancient Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt, was once the largest library in the ancient world Before the era of printing, manuscripts were handwritten, and so few copies existed, helping to explain why so much has been lost. Works which are not referred to by others must, of course, remain unknown and totally forgotten.

The term is most commonly applied to works from the classical world, although it is increasingly used in relation to more modern works. "Classical literature" redirects here For literature in Classical languages outside the Graeco-Roman sphere see Ancient literature.

Contents 1 Notable lost works 1.1 Classical world 1.1.1 Specific works 1.1.2 Multiple works 1.2 Manichaean texts 1.3 Lost Biblical texts 1.3.1 Lost texts referenced in the Old Testament 1.3.2 Lost books referenced in the New Testament 1.3.3 Lost New Testament apocrypha 1.4 2nd century 1.5 3rd century 1.6 4th century 1.7 5th century 1.8 12th century 1.9 14th century 1.10 15th century 1.11 16th century 1.12 17th century 1.13 18th century 1.14 19th century 1.15 20th century 1.16 Chinese texts 2 See also 3 Further reading 4 External links

Notable lost works

Classical world

Specific works

• Agatharchides':
  • Ta kata ten Asian (Affairs in Asia) in 10 books,
  • Ta kata ten Europen (Affairs in Europe) in 49 books
  • Peri ten Erythras thalasses (On the Erythraean Sea) in 5 books
• Sulpicius Alexander's Historia. Agatharchides (Ἀγαθαρχίδης or Agatharchus Ἀγάθαρχος of Cnidus, was a Greek Historian and Geographer (flourished Sulpicius Alexander (fl late fourth century was a Roman Historian of Germanic tribes.
• Anaxagoras' book of philosophy- only fragments of the first part have survived. Anaxagoras ( Greek: Ἀναξαγόρας c 500 BC &ndash 428 BC was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher famous for introducing the Cosmological
• Archimedes' On Sphere-Making. Archimedes of Syracuse ( Greek:) ( c. 287 BC – c 212 BC was a Greek mathematician, Physicist, Engineer On Sphere-Making is the title of a Lost work by Archimedes, mentioned by Pappus of Alexandria.
• Aristarchus of Samos' astronomy book outlining his heliocentric theory
• Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus' De Vita Sua
• Berossus' Babyloniaca (History of Babylonia)
• Gaius Iulius Caesar's
  • Anticatonis Libri II (only fragments survived)
  • Carmina et prolusiones (only fragments survived)
  • De analogia libri II ad M. Aristarchus (Ἀρίσταρχος 310 BC - ca 230 BC) was a Greek Astronomer and Mathematician, born on the island of In Astronomy, heliocentrism is the theory that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Berossus (also Berossos or Berosus; Greek: Βήρωσσος was a Hellenistic -era Babylonian writer and astronomer who Tullium Ciceronem
  • De astris liber
  • Dicta collectanea ("collected sayings", also known by the Greek title άποφθέγματα)
  • Letters (only fragments survived)
    • Epistulae ad Ciceronem
    • Epistulae ad familiares
  • Iter (only one fragment survived)
  • Laudes Herculis
  • Libri auspiciorum ("books of auspices", also known as Auguralia)
  • Oedipus
  • other works:
    • contributions to the libri pontificales as pontifex maximus
    • possibly some early love poems
• Callisthenes'
  • An account of Alexander's expedition
  • A history of Greece from the Peace of Antalcidas (387) to the Phocian war (357)
  • A history of the Phocian war
• Sulla's Memoirs, referenced by Plutarch
• Cato the Elder's:
  • Origines, a 7 book history of Rome and the Italian states. Callisthenes of Olynthus (in Greek; ca 360-328 BC was a Greek Historian. The Peace of Antalcidas ( 387 BC) also known as the King's Peace, was a Peace treaty that ended the Corinthian War in Ancient Greece Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix ( Latin: L•CORNELIVS•L•F•P•N•SVLLA•FELIX (c Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus ( Greek: Μέστριος Πλούταρχος c Marcus Porcius Cato ( Latin: M·PORCIVS·M·F·CATO (234 BC Tusculum &ndash149 BC was a Roman statesman surnamed the Censor
  • Carmen de moribus, a book of prayers or incantations for the dead in verse.
  • Praecepta ad Filium, a collection of maxims.
  • A collection of his speeches.
• Quintus Tullius Cicero's four tragedies in the Greek style: Tiroas, Erigones, Electra, and one other. Quintus Tullius Cicero (102 BC &ndash 43 BC was the younger brother of the celebrated Orator, Philosopher and Statesman Marcus Tullius
• Claudius'
  • De arte alea
  • an Etruscan dictionary
  • an Etruscan history
  • a history of Augustus' reign
  • eight volumes on Carthaginian history
  • a defense of Cicero against the charges of Asinius Gallus
• Ctesibius
  • On pneumatics, a work describing force pumps
  • Memorabilia, a compilation of his research works
• Ctesias':
  • Persica, a history of Assyria and Persia in 23 books. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I ( August 1, 10 BC &ndash October 13, AD 54 ( Tiberius Claudius Drusus from birth to The Etruscan Language was spoken and written by the Etruscan civilization in the ancient region of Etruria (modern Tuscany plus western Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius ( Greek Κτησίβιος ( fl Ctesias of Cnidus ( Greek) was a Greek Physician and Historian from Cnidus in Caria.
  • Indica, an account of India
• Eratosthenes
  • On the Measurement of the Earth (lost, summarized by Cleomedes)
  • Geographica (lost, criticized by Strabo)
• Euclid's
  • Conics, a work on conic sections later extended by Apollonius of Perga into his famous work on the subject. Eratosthenes of Cyrene ( Greek; 276 BC - 194 BC was a Greek Mathematician, Poet, athlete, Geographer and This article concerns the Greek astronomer For the article on the lunar crater named for him see Cleomedes (crater. Strabo ( Greek: Στράβων 63/64 BC – ca AD 24 was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher. Euclid ( Greek:.) fl 300 BC also known as Euclid of Alexandria, is often referred to as the Father of Geometry In Mathematics, a conic section (or just conic) is a Curve obtained by intersecting a cone (more precisely a circular Conical surface
  • Porisms, the exact meaning of the title is controversial. The subject of porisms is perplexed by the multitude of different views which have been held by Geometers as to what a porism really was and is
  • Pseudaria, or Book of Fallacies, an elementary text about errors in reasoning. Reasoning is the cognitive process of looking for Reasons for beliefs conclusions actions or feelings
  • Surface Loci concerned either loci (sets of points) on surfaces or loci which were themselves surfaces. In Mathematics, a locus ( Latin for "place" plural loci) is a collection of points which share a property
• Verrius Flaccus':
  • De Orthographia: De Obscuris Catonis, an elucidation of obscurities in the writings of Cato the Elder
  • Saturnus, dealing with questions of Roman ritual
  • Rerum memoria dignarum libri, an encyclopaedic work much used by Pliny the Elder
  • Res Etruscae, probably on augury. Marcus Verrius Flaccus (ca 55 BC-AD 20 was a Roman Grammarian and teacher flourished under Augustus and Tiberius. Marcus Porcius Cato ( Latin: M·PORCIVS·M·F·CATO (234 BC Tusculum &ndash149 BC was a Roman statesman surnamed the Censor Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author The Augur was a priest and official in the classical world especially Ancient Rome and Etruria.
• Frontinus:
  • De re militari, a military manual

• Gorgias':
  • On Non-Existence (or On Nature) - Only two sketches of it exist. Sextus Julius Frontinus (ca 40-103 AD was one of the most distinguished Roman aristocrats of the late first century AD but is best known to the post-Classical world as an Gorgias ( Greek: Γοργίας ca 487-376 BC Greek Sophist, Pre-socratic philosopher and Rhetorician was a native
  • Epitaphios - What exists is thought to be only a small fragment of a significantly longer piece.
• Homer's Margites. Homer ( Ancient Greek:, Homēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic Poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the The Margites, a comic mock-epic of Ancient Greece,is about an idiot named "Margites" (Greek μάργος "raving mad lustful" who was so dense
• Lucan's:
  • Catachthonion
  • Iliacon from the Trojan cycle
  • Epigrammata
  • Adlocutio ad Pollam
  • Silvae
  • Saturnalia
  • Medea
  • Salticae Fabulae
  • Laudes Neronis, a praise of Nero
  • Orpheus
  • Prosa oratio in Octavium Sagittam
  • Epistulae ex Campania
  • De Incendio Urbis
• Memnon of Heraclea's history of Heraclea Pontica. Marcus Annaeus Lucanus ( November 3, 39 AD – April 30, 65 AD better known in English as Lucan, was a Roman In Ancient Rome, an adlocutio was an address by a general (usually the emperor to his massed army and a general salute from the army to their leader See also the disambiguation page Memnon. Memnon of Heraclea ( Mέμνων) was a Greek historical writer probably a native of Heraclea Pontica ( Greek: Ηράκλεια Ποντική modern day Karadeniz Ereğli, in the Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black
• Nicander's:
  • Aetolica, a prose history of Aetolia. Nicander of Colophon (Νίκανδρος ὁ Κολοφώνιος 2nd century BC) Greek Poet, Physician and grammarian was born at Claros
  • Heteroeumena, a mythological epic.
  • Georgica and Melissourgica, of which considerable fragments are preserved.
• Ovid's poem Medea, of which only two fragments survive. Publius Ovidius Naso ( March 20, 43 BC – 17 AD was a Roman poet known to the English -speaking world as Ovid who wrote on many topics including
• Pamphilus of Alexandria's comprehensive lexicon in 95 books of foreign or obscure words. Pamphilus (1st century AD was a Greek Grammarian of the school of Aristarchus of Samothrace.
• Pherecydes of Leros:
  • A history of Leros
  • an essay, On Iphigeneia
  • On the Festivals of Dionysus
  • Genealogies of the gods and heroes, originally in ten books; numerous fragments have been preserved. Pherecydes of Leros (c 450s BC was a Greek mythographer and logographer. Leros ( Greek: Λέρος Italian: Lèro) is a Greek Island and municipality in the Dodecanese prefecture
• Pherecydes of Syros' Heptamychia
• Pliny the Elder's:
  • History of the German Wars, some quotations survive in Tacitus' Annals and Germania
  • Studiosus, a detailed work on rhetoric
  • Dubii sermonis, in eight books
  • History of his Times, in thirty-one books, also quoted by Tacitus. See also Pherecydes of Leros Pherecydes of Syros (in Greek: Φερεκύδης was a Greek thinker from the island of Syros Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. The Annals, or in Latin, Annales, is a history book by Tacitus covering the reign of the four Roman Emperors succeeding Germania was the Latin Exonym for
  • De jaculatione equestri a military handbook on missiles thrown from horseback.
• Gaius Asinius Pollio's Historiae ("Histories")
• Alexander Polyhistor's Successions of Philosophers. Gaius Asinius Pollio (sometimes wrongly called Pollius or Philo) (75 BC &ndash AD 4 was a Roman Orator, Poet Lucius Cornelius Alexander Polyhistor was a Greek scholar who was enslaved by the Romans during the Mithridatic War and taken to Rome as a tutor Successions of Philosophers or Philosopher's Successions is a lost book written by Alexander Polyhistor, and referenced several times in Diogenes Laërtius
• Praxagoras's History of Constantine the Great[1]. This person is not to be confused with the historian Praxagoras of Athens Praxagoras was an influential figure of Medicine in
• Prodicus':
  • On Nature
  • On the Nature of Man
  • "On Propriety of Language"
  • On the Choice of Heracles
• Protagoras':
  • "On the Gods" (essay)
  • On the Art of Disputation
  • On the Original State of Things
  • On Truth
• Quintilian's De Causis Corruptae Eloquentiae (On the Causes of Corrupted Eloquence)
• Diodorus Siculus' Bibliotheca historia (Historical Library)- of 40 books, only the first 5 books, and books 10 through 20 are extant. Prodicus of Ceos ( Greek: Πρόδικος Pródikos, (c 465 BC - 415 BC was a Greek philosopher, part of the first generation of Sophists. Protagoras ( Greek:) (ca 490&ndash 420 BC was a pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher and is numbered as one of the Sophists by Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (ca 35 – ca 100 was a Roman Rhetorician from Hispania, widely referred to in medieval schools of rhetoric and
• The Hellespontine Sibyl's Sibylline Books
• Socrates' verse versions of Aesop's Fables. The Hellespontine Sibyl was the priestess presiding over the Apollonian Oracle at Dardania. The Sibylline Books or Libri Sibyllini were a collection of oracular utterances set out in Greek Hexameters purchased from a Sibyl SOCRATES is the European Community action programme in the field of Education. Aesop's Fables or Aesopica refers to a collection of Fables credited to Aesop (620&ndash 560 BC) a slave and story-teller who lived
• Strabo's History. Strabo ( Greek: Στράβων 63/64 BC – ca AD 24 was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.
• Marcus Terentius Varro's:
  • Saturarum Menippearum libri CL (Menippean Satires in 150 books)
  • Antiquatatum rerum humanarum et divinarum libri XLI
  • Logistoricon libri LXXVI
  • Hebdomades vel de imaginibus
  • Disciplinarum libri IX
• Suetonius'
  • De Viris Illustribus ("On Famous Men" — in the field of literature), to which belongs: De Illustribus Grammaticis ("Lives Of The Grammarians"), De Claris Rhetoribus ("Lives Of The Rhetoricians"), and Lives Of The Poets. Marcus Terentius Varro (116 BC &ndash 27 BC also known as Varro Reatinus to distinguish him from his younger contemporary Varro Atacinus, was a Roman Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius (ca 69/75 &ndash after 130 was an equestrian and a historian during the Roman Empire. Some fragments exist.
  • Lives of Famous Whores
  • Royal Biographies
  • Roma ("On Rome"), in four parts: Roman Manners & Customs, The Roman Year, The Roman Festivals, and Roman Dress.
  • Greek Games
  • On Public Offices
  • On Cicero’s Republic
  • The Physical Defects of Mankind
  • Methods of Reckoning Time
  • An Essay on Nature
  • Greek Terms of Abuse
  • Grammatical Problems
  • Critical Signs Used in Books
• Thales
  • On the Solstice(possible lost work)
  • On the Equinox (possible lost work)
• Varro
  • Saturarum Menippearum libri CL or Menippean Satires in 150 books
  • Antiquitates rerum humanarum et divinarum libri XLI
  • Logistoricon libri LXXVI
  • Hebdomades vel de imaginibus
  • Disciplinarum libri IX

• The work of the Cyclic poets (excluding Homer), specifically:
  • six epics of the Epic Cycle: Cypria, Aethiopis, the Little Iliad, the Iliou persis ("Sack of Troy"), Nostoi ("Returns"), and Telegony. Thales of Miletus According to Bertrand Russell, "Philosophy begins with Thales Cyclic Poets is a shorthand term for the early Greek epic poets, approximate contemporaries of Homer. Homer ( Ancient Greek:, Homēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic Poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the The Epic Cycle (Επικός Κύκλος was a collection of Ancient Greek Epic poems that related the story of the Trojan War, which includes the The Cypria ( Ancient Greek: Kypria; Latin form Cypria) is an epic of ancient Greek literature that was quite The Little Iliad ( Greek:, Ilias mikra; Latin: Ilias parva The Iliou persis ( Greek:; also known as Iliupersis, esp in Latin; English: Sack of Ilium) is a lost epic of ancient The Nostoi (Νόστοι also known as Nosti in Latin, Returns in English) is a lost epic of ancient Greek literature. The Telegony ( Greek:, Tēlegoneia; Latin: Telegonia) is a lost Ancient Greek epic poem about Telegonus
  • four epics of the Theban Cycle: Oedipodea, Thebaid, Epigoni (epic), and Alcmeonis. The Theban Cycle (Θηβαϊκὸς Κύκλος is a collection of four lost epics of ancient Greek literature which related the mythical history of the Boeotian The Oedipodea (Οἰδιπόδεια is a lost poem of the Theban cycle, a part of the Epic Cycle (Επικὸς Κύκλος The Thebaid (Θηβαΐδα is an Ancient Greek Epic poem of uncertain authorship (see Cyclic poets) sometimes attributed by early writers to Homer Epigoni ( Greek: Επίγονοι Epigonoi "The Progeny" was an early Greek epic a sequel to the Thebaid and therefore Alcmeonis ( Greek: Ἀλκμεωνίς Alkmeonis or Alkmaionis) is the title of a lost early Greek epic which is considered to have
  • other early Greek epics: Titanomachy, Heracleia, Capture of Oechalia, Naupactia, Phocais, Minyas

Multiple works

• Lost plays of Aeschylus. Cyclic Poets is a shorthand term for the early Greek epic poets, approximate contemporaries of Homer. Titanomachy The Titanomachy (Τιτανομαχία is a lost epic poem which is a part of Greek mythology. Heraclea, Heracleia or Heraclia may refer to Places Island Heraclea (island was the name of one of the The Capture of Oechalia was an epic of the ancient Greek Epic Cycle variously attributed to both Homer and Creophilus of Samos some sources say Homer gave The Naupactia ( Greek:, Naupaktia) is a lost epic poem of ancient Greek literature. Thestorides of Phocaea was a legendary or semi-legendary early Greek poet, one of those to whom the epic Little Iliad was ascribed Minyas (Μινυάς was the title of an early Greek epic poem probably dating to the sixth century BC, which is now lost and whose author is unknown Aeschylus (ˈɛskɨləs or /ˈiːskɨləs/ Greek: Ασχύλος, Aischylos, 525 BC/524 BC 456 BC/455 BC was an ancient Greek Playwright He is believed to have written some 90 plays of which 6 plays survive. A seventh play is attributed to him. Fragments of his play Achilles were discovered in the wrappings of a mummy in the 1990s
• Lost plays of Agathon. A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme Agathon (Ἀγάθων (ca 448&ndash400 BC was an Athenian tragic poet and friend of Euripides and Plato. None of them survive.
• Lost poems of Alcaeus. Of a reported ten scrolls, there exist only quotes and numerous fragments.
• Lost choral poems of Alcman. Alcman (also Alkman Greek) (7th century BC was an Ancient Greek choral lyric poet from Sparta. Of six books of choral lyrics were known (ca. 50-60 hymns), only fragmentary quotations in other Greek authors were known until the discovery of a fragment in 1855, containing approximately 100 verses. In the 1960's, many more fragments were discovered and published from a dig at Oxyrhynchus. Oxyrhynchus (Ὀξύρρυγχος "sharp-nosed" ancient Egyptian Pr-Medjed; Coptic Pemdje; modern Egyptian Arabic
• Lost poems of Anacreon. Anacreon ( Greek) (570 BC-488 BC was a Greek lyric Poet, notable for his drinking songs and hymns Of the five books of lyrical pieces mentioned in the Suda and by Athenaeus, only mere fragments collected from the citations of later writers now exist. The Suda or Souda ( also, Suidas) is a massive 10th century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean Athenaeus ( Ancient Greek - Athếnaios Naukratios Latin Athenaeus Naucratita of Naucratis in Egypt Greek rhetorician and grammarian flourished
• Lost works of Anaximander. Anaximander ( Ancient Greek:) (c 610 BC–c 546 BC was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who lived in Miletus There are a few extant fragments of his works.
• Lost plays of Aristarchus of Tegea. Aristarchus of Tegea was a contemporary of Sophocles and Euripides, who lived to be a centenarian to compose seventy pieces and to win two tragic victories Of seventy pieces, only the titles of two of his plays, with a single line of the text have survived.
• Lost plays of Aristophanes. Aristophanes (Ἀριστοφάνης ˌærɪˈstɒfəniːz in English ca He wrote forty plays, eleven of which survive.
• Lost works of Aristotle. Aristotle (Greek Aristotélēs) (384 BC – 322 BC was a Greek philosopher a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. It is believed that we have about one fifth of his original works.
• Lost work of Aristoxenus. For the 1st century physician of Asia Minor see Aristoxenus (physician. He is said to have written 453 works, dealing with philosophy, ethics and music. His only extant work is Elements of Harmony.
• Lost works of the historian Arrian. For others with this name see Arrianus (disambiguation. Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (ca
• Lost works of Callimachus. Callimachus ( Greek:, 310 BC/305 BC-240 BC was a native of the Greek colony of Cyrene, Libya. Of about 800 works, in verse and prose; only six hymns, sixty-four epigrams and some fragments survive; a considerable fragment of the epic Hecale, was discovered in the Rainer papyri. In Greek mythology, Hecale was an old woman who offered succor to Theseus on his way to capture the Marathonian Bull.
• Lost works of Chrysippus. Chrysippus of Soli (c280&ndashc207 BC (Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς was Cleanthes ' pupil and the eventual successor as the head of Stoic philosophy Of over 700 written works, none survive, except a few fragments embedded in the works of later authors.
• Lost works of Cicero. Marcus Tullius Cicero ( Classical Latin ˈkikeroː usually ˈsɪsərəʊ in English January 3, 106 BC &ndash December 7, 43 BC was a Roman Of his books, six on rhetoric have survived, and parts of seven on philosophy.
• Lost plays of Cratinus. Cratinus ( Greek Κρᾰτῖνος, ca 520 BC- after 423 BC Athenian comic Poet. Only fragments of his works have been preserved.
• Lost works of Democritus. Democritus ( Greek:) was a pre-Socratic Greek Materialist Philosopher (born at Abdera in Thrace ca He wrote extensively on ethics, of which little remains.
• Lost works of Diphilus. Diphilus, of Sinope, was a poet of the new Attic comedy and contemporary of Menander ( 342 - 291 BC) He is said to have written 100 comedies, the titles of fifty of which are preserved.
• Lost works of Ennius. Quintus Ennius (239 - 169 BC was a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman Poetry. Only fragments of his works survive.
• Lost works of Empedocles. Empedocles ( Greek:, ca 490–430 BC was a Greek Pre-Socratic Philosopher and a citizen of Agrigentum, a Greek colony in Little of what he wrote survives today.
• Lost plays of Epicharmus of Kos. Epicharmus is considered to have lived within the hundred year period between c He wrote between 35 and 52 comedies, many of which have been lost or exist only in fragments.
• Lost plays of Euripides. Euripides ( Ancient Greek:) (ca 480 BC–406 BC was the last of the three great tragedians of classical Athens (the other two being Aeschylus He is believed to have written over ninety plays, eighteen of which have survived. Fragments, some substantial, of most other plays also survive.
• Lost plays of Eupolis. Eupolis (ca 446 BC-411 BC was an Athenian Poet of the Old Comedy, that flourished in the time of the Peloponnesian War. Of the 17 plays attributed to him, only fragments remain.
• Lost works of Heraclitus. Heraclitus of Ephesus ( Ancient Greek: &mdash grc-Latn ''Hērákleitos ho Ephésios'' English Heraclitus the Ephesian) (ca His writings only survive in fragments quoted by other authors.
• Lost works of Hippasus. Hippasus of Metapontum (Ίππασος b c 500 BC in Magna Graecia, was a Greek Philosopher. Few of his original works now survive.
• Lost works of Hippias. Hippias can also refer to the tyrant of Athens son of Peisistratus He is credited with an excellent work on Homer, collections of Greek and foreign literature, and archaeological treatises, but nothing remains except the barest notes.
• Lost poems of Ibycus. Ibycus ( Ancient Greek:) (6th century BC of Rhegium in Italy, was an Ancient Greek lyric Poet. According to the Suda, he wrote seven books of lyrics. The Suda or Souda ( also, Suidas) is a massive 10th century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean
• Lost works of Clitomachus. Clitomachus (Κλειτόμαχος also Cleitomachus or Kleitomachos) originally named Hasdrubal (187-109 BCE was a Carthaginian who According to Diogenes Laertius, he wrote some 400 books, of which none are extant today, although a few titles are known. Diogenes Laërtius ( Greek:, Diogénes Laértios) the biographer of the Greek Philosophers, is supposed by some to have received his surname
• Lost works of Leucippus. Leucippus or Leukippos ( Greek, first half of 5th century BC was among the earliest philosophers of Atomism, the idea that everything is composed entirely No writings exist which we can attribute to him.
• Lost works of Melissus of Samos. Melissus of Samos (in Greek, Μέλισσος ὁ Σάμιος; probably born in 470 BC was a Samian Statesman and naval commander Only fragments preserved in other writers' works exist.
• Lost plays of Menander. Menander ( Greek:, Menandros; ca 342&ndash291 BC Greek Dramatist, the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy, was the son He wrote over a hundred comedies of which one survives. Fragments of a number of his plays survive.
• Lost works of Philemon. Philemon (ca 362 BC – ca 262 BC was an Athenian poet and playwright of the New Comedy. Of his ninety-seven works, fifty-seven are known to us only as titles and fragments.
• Lost poetry of Pindar. Pindar (ˈpɪndɚ (or Pindarus, Greek:) (probably born 522 BC in Cynoscephalae a village in Boeotia; died 443 BC in Argos) was an Ancient Of his varied books of poetry, only his victory odes survive in complete form. The rest are known only by quotations in other works or papyrus scraps unearthed in Egypt.
• Lost plays of Plautus. Titus Maccius Plautus (c 254–184 BCE commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman Playwright. He wrote approximately one hundred and thirty plays, of which twenty-one survive.
• Lost poems and orations of Pliny the Younger. Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo (61/63 - ca
• Rhetorical works of Julius Pollux. Julius Pollux (Ιούλιος Πολυδεύκης Ioulios Poludeukes ( 2nd century AD) was a Greek or Egyptian grammarian and sophist from Alexandria
• Lost works of Posidonius. Posidonius ( Greek: Ποσειδώνιος / Poseidonios "of Apameia " (ὁ Απαμεύς or "of Rhodes " (ὁ Ρόδιος (ca All of his works are now lost. Some fragments exist, as well as titles and subjects of many of his books. [2]
• Lost works of Proclus. Proclus Lycaeus ( February 8, c 411 &ndash April 17, 485) called "The Successor" or "Diadochos" ( Greek Próklos A number of his commentaries on Plato are lost. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece
• Lost works of Pythagoras. "Pythagoras of Samos" redirects here For the Samian statuary of the same name see Pythagoras (sculptor. No texts by him survive.
• Lost plays of Rhinthon. For the Genus of Grass skipper Butterflies, see Rhinthon (butterfly. Of thirty-eight plays, only a few titles and lines have been preserved.
• Lost poems of Sappho. Sappho (ˈsæfoʊ in English Attic Greek el Σαπφώ sapːʰɔː Aeolic Greek el Ψάπφω) was an Ancient Greek lyric Only a few full poems and fragments of others survive.
• Lost poems of Simonides of Ceos. Of his poetry we possess two or three short elegies, several epigrams and about 90 fragments of lyric poetry.
• Lost plays of Sophocles. Sophocles (ˈsɒfəkliːz Ancient Greek, sopʰoklɛ̂ːs circa Of 123 plays, 7 survive, with fragments of others.
• Lost poems of Stesichorus. Stesichorus ( Ancient Greek:, English translation: "he who sets up the chorus" was a Greek lyric poet from Himera in Of several long works, significant fragments survive.
• Lost works of Theodectes. Theodectes (c 380 to 340 BCE was a Greek Rhetorician and tragic poet, of Phaselis in Lycia who lived in the period which followed Of his fifty tragedies, we have the names of about thirteen and a few unimportant fragments. His treatise on the art of rhetoric and his speeches are lost.
• Lost works of Theophrastus. Theophrastus ( Greek:; 371 – c 287 BC a Greek native of Eressos in Lesbos, was the successor of Aristotle in the Peripatetic Of his 227 books, only a handful survive, including On Plants and On Stones, but On Mining is lost. Fragments of others survive.
• Lost works of Xenophanes. Xenophanes of Colophon ( Greek ( 570 – 480 BC was a Greek Philosopher, Poet, and social and religious Critic. Fragments of his poetry survive only as quotations by later Greek writers.
• Lost works of Zeno of Elea. Zeno of Elea (ˈziːnoʊ əv ˈɛliə Greek: Ζήνων ὁ Ἐλεάτης (ca None of his works survive intact.

Manichaean texts

• Arzhang, the holy book of Manichaeism. The Arzhang (Aržang - a Parthian word meaning "Worthy" is the holy book of Manichaeism, written and illustrated by its prophet Mani Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating

Lost Biblical texts

Main article: Non-canonical books referenced in the Bible

• Hexapla, a compilation of the Old Testament by Origen. Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Hexapla (Ἑξαπλά Gr for "sixfold" is the term for an edition of the Bible in six versions In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca
• Q document, a hypothetical New Testament Gospel source text.

Lost texts referenced in the Old Testament

• The Lost Book of the Covenant (May be the Covenant Code)
• The Book of the Wars of the Lord
• The Lost Book of Jasher (May be the Book of Jasher or the Midrash of Jasher)
• The Manner of the Kingdom
• The Acts of Solomon
• The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel
• The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah
• The Book of the Kings of Israel
• The Annals of King David
• Book of Samuel the Seer
• Book of Nathan the Prophet
• Book of Gad the Seer
• The History of Nathan the Prophet
• Prophecy of Ahijah
• Visions of Iddo the Seer
• Book of Shemaiah the Prophet
• Iddo Genealogies
• Story of the Prophet Iddo
• The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel
• Book of Jehu
• Story of the Book of Kings
• Acts of Uziah
• Acts of the Kings of Israel
• Sayings of the Seers
• Laments for Josiah
• Book of the Chronicles
• Chronicles of King Ahasuerus
• Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia

Lost books referenced in the New Testament

• Epistle to Corinth
• Earlier Epistle to the Ephesians
• Epistle from Laodicea to the Colossians
• Earlier Epistle of John
• Missing Epistle of Jude

Lost New Testament apocrypha

• Gospel of Eve
• Gospel of Judas - Fragmentory coptic codex rediscovered and translated, 2006 [3] [4]. The Covenant Code, or alternatively Book of the Covenant, is the name given by academics to a text appearing in the Torah at Exodus -. The Book of the Wars of the Lord is one of several Non-canonical books referenced in the Bible which has now been completely lost. The Book of Jasher is the normal English name (used by eg the King James Bible) of a work known in the original Hebrew as Sefer haYashar Book of Jasher (Pseudo-Jasher. It is sometimes called Pseudo-Jasher to distinguish it from the Sefer haYashar (midrash which incorporates genuine Jewish legend Sefer haYashar (midrash, a Hebrew Midrash known in English translation mostly as The Book of Jasher. The similarly named Biblical book is located at Song of Solomon. The similarly named Biblical books are located at Books of Chronicles. The similarly named Biblical books are located at Books of Chronicles. The similarly named Biblical books are located at Books of Kings. The Annals of King David is a lost text that may have been written by the Biblical prophet Nathan, who was one of King David's contemporaries The Book of Samuel the Seer is a lost text that was probably written by the Biblical Judge/Prophet Samuel. The Book of Nathan the Prophet is a lost text that claims authorship by the Biblical prophet Nathan. The Book of Gad the Seer is a lost text that was probably written by the Biblical prophet Gad. The History of Nathan the Prophet is one of the lost books of the Tanakh. The Prophecy of Ahijah is a lost text that may have been written by the Biblical prophet Ahijah. The book called the Visions of Iddo the Seer is a lost text that was probably written by the Biblical Prophet Iddo, who lived at the time of Rehoboam. The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet is one of the lost books of the Old Testament. The book called the Iddo Genealogies is one of the Lost books of the Old Testament. The Story of the Prophet Iddo is a lost text that was probably written by the Biblical Prophet Iddo, who lived at the time of Rehoboam. The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel is one of the lost books of the Old Testament. The Book of Jehu is a lost text that may have been written by the Biblical prophet Jehu ben Hanani, who was one of King Baasha's contemporaries The similarly named Biblical books are located at Books of Kings. The Acts of Uziah is a lost text that may have been written by Isaiah, who was one of King Uzziah 's contemporaries The similarly named Biblical books are located at Books of Kings. The Sayings of the Seers, (or Sayings of Hozai, in the Masoretic Text) is a lost text referred to in. Laments for Josiah is the term used in reference to. The passage reads "And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works Several texts are mentioned in the Tanakh ( Old Testament) and New Testament, yet do not appear in the canon of the respective works The Gospel of Eve is a currently almost entirely lost text from the New Testament apocrypha, which may be the same as the also lost Gospel of Perfection. The Gospel of Judas is a Gnostic gospel purported to document conversations between apostle Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ. A codex ( Latin for block of wood, Book; plural codices) is a book in the format used for modern books with separate pages normally
• Gospel of Mani
• Gospel of Matthias
• Gospel of Perfection
• Gospel of the Four Heavenly Realms
• Gospel of the Hebrews
• Gospel of the Seventy
• Gospel of the Twelve
• Memoria Apostolorum
• Secret Gospel of Mark

2nd century

• Hegesippus' Hypomnemata (Memoirs) in five books, and a history of the Christian church. The Gospel of Mani ( Evangelion) is a Gospel written by Mani, and thus part of the New Testament apocrypha, as well as one of the seven sacred The Gospel of Matthias is a lost text from the New Testament apocrypha, ascribed to Matthias, the apostle chosen by lots to replace Judas Iscariot The Gospel of Perfection is a currently lost text from the New Testament apocrypha. The Gospel of the Four Heavenly Realms is a currently lost text from the New Testament apocrypha. The Gospel of the Hebrews (see "About titles" below is a lost gospel preserved only in a few The Gospel of the Seventy is a currently lost text from the New Testament apocrypha. The Gospel of the Twelve is a currently almost entirely lost text from the New Testament apocrypha. Memoria Apostolorum, which means (in memory of the apostles, is one of the lost texts from the New Testament apocrypha. The Secret Gospel of Mark refers to a non-canonical Gospel which is the subject of the Mar Saba letter, a previously unknown letter attributed
• The Gospel of the Lord compiled by Marcion of Sinope to support his interpretation of Christianity. The Gospel of Marcion or the Gospel of the Lord was a text used by the mid-second century Christian teacher Marcion to the exclusion of the other gospels Marcion (Μαρκίων (ca 110 - 160) was a Christian Theologian who was excommunicated by the Early Christian church Marcion's writings were suppressed although a portion of them have been recreated from the works that were used to denounce them.
• Papias' Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord in five books, mentioned by Eusebius.

3rd century

• Various works of Tertullian. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca Some fifteen works in Latin or Greek are lost, some as recently as the 9th century (De Paradiso, De superstitione saeculi, De carne et anima were all extant in the now damaged Codex Agobardinus in 814 AD). The Codex Agobardinus is a collection dating from the 9th century of the works of Christian author Tertullian.

4th century

• Praeparatio Ecclesiastica[5], and Demonstratio Ecclesiastica[6] by Eusebius of Caesarea

5th century

• Sozomen's history of the Christian church, from the Ascension of Jesus to the defeat of Licinius in 323, in twelve books. Salminius Hermias Sozomenus (Σωζομενός (c 400 - c 450 was a Historian of the Christian church

12th century

• Four works by Gerald of Wales:
  • Duorum speculum
  • Vita sancti Karadoci ("Life of St Caradoc")
  • De fidei fructu fideique defectu
  • Cambriae mappa
• The Old French romances André de France and Gui d'Excideuil

14th century

• Inventio Fortunata - a 14th century description of the geography of the North Pole. Gerald of Wales (c 1146 &ndash c 1223 also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, Old French was the Romance Dialect continuum spoken in territories which span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium As a Literary genre of High culture, romance or chivalric romance refers to a style of heroic Prose and verse Narrative André de France or André de Paris is the hero of an Old French romance written in the 12th century whose text is now lost Gui d'Excideuil is the hero of an Old French romance written in the 12th century whose text is now lost Inventio Fortunata (also Inventio Fortunate, Inventio Fortunat or Inventio Fortunatae) " Fortunate or fortune-making discovery " The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is subject to the caveats explained below defined as the point in the northern
• Itinerarium - a geography book by Jacobus Cnoyen of 's-Hertogenbosch, cited by Gerardus Mercator
• Res gestae Arturi britanni (The Deeds of Arthur of Britain) - book cited by Jacobus Cnoyen
• Of the Wreched Engendrynge of Mankynde, Origenes upon the Maudeleyne, and The book of the Leoun - three works by Geoffrey Chaucer. ' s-Hertogenbosch ( (literally "The Duke's Forest" colloquially known as Den Bosch ( — translated in French as Bois-le-Duc, in German A separate article is about the mathematician Nicholas Mercator. Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat.

15th century

• The quipu of the Incan Empire were mostly destroyed by the Spanish Conquistadorer. Quipu or khipu (sometimes called talking knots) were recording devices used in the Inca Empire and its predecessor societies in the Andean The Inca Empire (or Inka Empire) was the largest empire in Pre-Columbian America. This article is about the Spanish explorer soldiers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuriesfor other uses see Conquistador (disambiguation A Conquistador
• Yongle Encyclopedia (traditional Chinese: 永樂大典; simplified Chinese: 永乐大典; pinyin: Yǒnglè Dàdiǎn; literally “The Great Canon [or Vast Documents] of the Yongle Era”). The Yongle Dadian Encyclopedia ( literally “The Great Canon or Vast Documents of the Yongle Era” was a Chinese compilation commissioned by the Chinese Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use It was one of the world's earliest, and the then largest, encyclopaedia commissioned by Emperor Yongle of Ming Dynasty in AD 1403, completed circa AD 1408. The Yongle Emperor ( Wade-Giles: Yung-lo May 2, 1360 &ndash August 12, 1424) born Zhu Di ( Chu Ti The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led About 400 chapters (less than 4%) of the original survived today.

16th century

• Ur-Hamlet - an earlier version of the play Hamlet predating William Shakespeare's version, author believed to be Thomas Kyd. The Ur-Hamlet (the German prefix Ur- means "primordial" is the name given to a theoretical play believed lost that may have been extant before 1589 a Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 William Shakespeare ( baptised Thomas Kyd ( 3 November 1558 – 16 July 1594) was an English Dramatist, the author of The Spanish Tragedy
• Love's Labour's Won, lost play by William Shakespeare. Love's Labour's Won, alternatively written Love's labour's wonne, is the name of a play written by William Shakespeare before 1598 William Shakespeare ( baptised
• Maya codices ceremonially destroyed by Diego de Landa (1524-1579), bishop of Yucatán, on 12 July 1562. Maya codices (singular Codex) are folding Books stemming from the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization, written in Maya hieroglyphic Diego de Landa Calderón ( 12 November, 1524 &ndash 1579 was Bishop of Yucatán. Yucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. At least 27 codices and approximately 5,000 Mayan "idols" were burnt.
• The Ocean to Cynthia - a poem by Sir Walter Raleigh of which only fragments are known. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer
• Luís de Camões' philosophic work The Parnasum of Luís Vaz is lost. Luís Vaz de Camões (luˈiʃ vaʃ dɨ kaˈmõĩʃ sometimes rendered in English from old Portuguese as Camoens) (c
• During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, many monastic libraries were destroyed. The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded Worcester Abbey had 600 books at the time of the dissolution. Only six of them have survived intact to the present day. At the abbey of the Augustinian Friars at York, a library of 646 volumes was destroyed, leaving only three surviving books. Some books were destroyed for their precious bindings, others were sold off by the cartload, including irreplaceable early English works. It is believed that many of the earliest Anglo-Saxon manuscripts were lost at this time.

"A great nombre of them whych purchased those supertycyous mansyons, resrved of those lybrarye bokes, some to serve theyr jakes [i. e. , as toilet paper], some to scoure candelstyckes, and some to rubbe their bootes. Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain Personal hygiene after human Defecation or Urination. Some they solde to the grossers and soapsellers…" — John Bale, 1549

• The Isle of Dogs (1597), a play by Thomas Nashe and Ben Jonson. For the American baseball player use John Bale (baseball John Bale ( 21 November, 1495 &ndashNovember 1563 was an The Isle of Dogs is a play by Thomas Nashe and Ben Jonson which was performed in 1597. Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist
• Hot Anger Soon Cold a play by Henry Chettle, Henry Porter and Ben Jonson; mentioned in Philip Henslowe's diary, August 1598. Hot Anger Soon Cold is a play written by Henry Chettle, Henry Porter and Ben Jonson. Henry Chettle (c 1564 &ndash c 1607 was an English Dramatist and miscellaneous writer of the Elizabethan era. Henry Porter (died 1599 was an English dramatist Very little is known about Henry Porter’s life beyond the entries in diary of Philip Henslowe the theatre manager Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist
• The Stepmother's Tragedy, a play by Henry Chettle and Thomas Dekker; mentioned in Philip Henslowe's diary, August 1599. The Stepmother's Tragedy is a play written by Henry Chettle and Thomas Dekker. Henry Chettle (c 1564 &ndash c 1607 was an English Dramatist and miscellaneous writer of the Elizabethan era. Thomas Dekker is the name of Thomas Dekker (writer (1572&ndash1632 Elizabethan poet and dramatist Thomas Dekker (actor (born 1987
• Black Batman of the North, Part II, a play by Henry Chettle and Robert Wilson; mentioned in Henslowe's diary in April 1598. Henry Chettle (c 1564 &ndash c 1607 was an English Dramatist and miscellaneous writer of the Elizabethan era. Robert Wilson may refer to Bob Wilson (US politician (1916–1999 American politician U

17th century

• Cardenio, play by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher (1613)
• El Manuscrito de Astorga, written by one Juan de Bergara in 1624. The History of Cardenio is a lost play, known to have been performed by the King's Men, a London theatre company in 1613 William Shakespeare ( baptised John Fletcher (1579 &ndash 1625 was a Jacobean Playwright. Following William Shakespeare as house playwright for the King's Men, he was Dealt with fly fishing, has been in the possession of Francisco Franco. Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid
• Lost haikus of Ihara Saikaku. Ihara Saikaku ( Japanese: 井原 西鶴 1642 – September 9, 1693) was a Japanese Poet and creator of the " floating
• Jean Racine's first play, Amasie (1660) is lost. Jean Racine ( ( December 22, 1639 &ndash April 21, 1699) was a French Dramatist, one of the "big three" of
• John Milton wrote nearly two acts of a tragedy called Adam Unparadiz'd, which was then lost. John Milton ( 9 December, 1608 – 8 November, 1674) was an English Poet, Prose Polemicist and [7]
• Lost works of Molière:
  • A translation of "De Rerum Natura" by Lucretius. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, also known by his Stage name, Molière, ( January 15, 1622 – February 17 1673) was a French On the Nature of Things (Latin De rerum natura) is a first century BC Poem by the Roman Poet and Philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus (ca 99 BC- ca 55 BC was a Roman Poet and Philosopher.
  • Le Docteur amoureux (play, 1658)
  • Gros-René, petit enfant (play, 1659)
  • Le Docteur Pédant (play, 1660)
  • Les Trois Docteurs (play, ca. 1660)
  • Gorgibus dans le sac (play, 1661)
  • Le Fagotier (play, 1661)
  • Le Fin Lourdaut (play attributed, 1668)
• Lost works of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh inlclude;
  • Ughdair Ereann - fragments survive

18th century

• Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's journal was burnt by her daughter on the grounds that it contained much scandal and satire. Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, also known as Dubhaltach Óg Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh Duald Mac Firbis Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius The Lady Mary Wortley Montagu ( 26 May 1689 &ndash 21 August 1762) was an English aristocrat and writer
• Edward Gibbon burned the manuscript of his History of the Liberty of the Swiss. Edward Gibbon ( April 27, 1737 January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament.
• The Green-Room Squabble or a Battle Royal between the Queen of Babylon and the Daughter of Darius a 1756 play by Samuel Foote is lost. Samuel Foote (January 1720 &ndash October 21, 1777) was an English Dramatist, Actor and Theatre manager from Cornwall
• Beethoven's 1793 'Ode to Joy', which was later incorporated into the his ninth Symphony

19th century

• Memoirs of Lord Byron - destroyed by his literary executors led by John Murray on 17 May 1824. The Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125 "Choral" is the last complete Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. John Murray (1745–1793 was the founder of a British publishing house renowned for the roster of authors it has published in its history including Jane Austen Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The decision was made to destroy Byron's manuscript journals in order to protect his reputation. Opposed only by Thomas Moore, the two volumes of memoirs were dismembered and burnt in the fireplace at Murray's office. Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 &ndash 25 February 1852 was an Irish poet singer songwriter and Entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel
• The Scented Garden by Sir Richard Francis Burton - manuscript of a new translation from Arabic of The Perfumed Garden, was burnt by his widow, Lady Isabel Burton née Arundel, along with other papers. Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 &ndash 20 October 1890 was an English Explorer, Translator, writer The Perfumed Garden ( Arabic:الروض العاطر في نزهة الخاطر by Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Nafzawi is a Sex manual and work
• Parts two and three of Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol - burnt by Gogol at the instigation of the priest Father Matthew Konstantinovskii. Dead Souls ( Russian language: Мёртвые души by Nikolai Gogol was first published in 1842 and is one of the most prominent works of 19th Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (Никола́й Васи́льевич Го́голь Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol;; Микола Васильович Гоголь
• At least four complete volumes and around seven pages of text are missing from Lewis Carroll's 13 diaries, destroyed by his family for reasons frequently debated. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (ˈdɒdsən (27 January 1832 &ndash 14 January 1898 better known by the Pen name Lewis Carroll (/ˈkærəl/ was an English
• The son of the Marquis de Sade had all of de Sade's unpublished manuscripts burned after de Sade's death in 1814; this included the immense multi-volume work Les Journées de Florbelle. Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, Marquis de Sade ( June 2, 1740 – December 2, 1814) ( was a French aristocrat
• Franz Liszt claimed to have written a manual of piano technique for the Geneva Conservatoire. Many early works, amongs 3 sonatas and 2 concertos for piano, are also believed to be lost due to the want of a fixed domicile.
• Gerard Manley Hopkins burned all his early poetry on entering the priesthood. Gerard Manley Hopkins ( 28 July 1844 – 8 June, 1889) was an English Poet, Roman Catholic convert and
• In 1871, Gustave Flaubert buried a box of letters and papers as war approached; the box was never recovered. Gustave Flaubert (gystaːv flobɛːʁ in French ( December 12, 1821 &ndash May 8, 1880) was a French writer who is counted among
• A schoolmate of Arthur Rimbaud confessed he lost a notebook of poems by the famous poet. "Rimbaud" redirects here For other uses see Rimbaud (disambiguation Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud (ræm'boʊ or in French aʁtyʁ
• The first draft of Thomas Carlyle's The French Revolution: A History was sent to John Stuart Mill, whose maid mistakenly burned it, forcing Carlyle to rewrite it from scratch. Thomas Carlyle (4 December 1795 – 5 February 1881 was a Scottish essayist satirist and historian whose work was highly influential during the Victorian era. The French Revolution A History was written by the Scottish Essayist philosopher, and Historian Thomas Carlyle. John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 &ndash 8 May 1873 British Philosopher, political economist, civil servant and Member of Parliament, was an influential
• Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Lehi from the Mormon Golden Plates were either hidden, destroyed, or modified by Lucy Harris, the wife of transcriber Martin Harris. Background On September 22 1827, Joseph Smith Jr said he recovered a set of buried Golden Plates in a prominent hill near his parents' TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon In Latter Day Saint theology the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th century literature the golden Bible Martin Harris ( May 18, 1783 &ndash July 10, 1875) underwrote the first printing of The Book of Mormon and also served as one of Whatever their fate, the pages were not returned to Joseph Smith and declared "lost. " Smith did not recreate the translation.
• Letters written by Felix Mendelssohn seem to suggest that he wrote a cello concerto. Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3 1809 &ndash November 4 1847 was a German Composer A cello concerto (sometimes called a violoncello concerto) is a Concerto for solo Cello with Orchestra or very occasionally smaller groups It was supposedly lost when the only copy of it fell off the coach that was carrying it to its dedicatee.
• Various works of Johannes Brahms. Johannes Brahms ( pronounced ˈbʁaːms (May 7 1833 &ndash April 3 1897 was a German Composer Brahms was a perfectionist who destroyed many of his own early works, including a violin sonata. He claimed once to have destroyed 20 string quartets before he issued his official First in 1873. When he retired, he even destroyed manuscripts of his fifth and sixth symphonies.
• Isle of the Cross, Herman Melville's follow up to the unsuccessful Pierre was rejected by his publishers and has subsequently been lost. Isle of the Cross (c 1853 was an unpublished and subsequently lost novel by Herman Melville. Herman Melville (August 1 1819 &ndash September 28 1891 was an American novelist Short story writer Essayist and poet Pierre or The Ambiguities is a Novel written by Herman Melville, and published in 1852 by Harper & Brothers.
• Robert Louis Stevenson burned his first completed draft of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde after his wife criticized the work. Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (13 November 1850–3 December 1894 was a Scottish novelist poet and travel writer, and a representative of Neo-romanticism in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a Novella written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886 Stevenson wrote and published a revised version.
• Leon Trotsky describes the loss of an unfinished play manuscript (a collaboration with Sokolovsky) in his My Life, end of chapter 6 (sometime between 1896-1898). Leon Trotsky ( Russian:, Lev Davidovich Trotsky, also transliterated Leo, Lyev, Trotskii, Trotski, Trotskij [8]
• The Poor Man and the Lady. The Poor Man and the Lady was the first Novel written by Thomas Hardy. Thomas Hardy's first novel (1867) was never published. Thomas Hardy OM (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928 was an English novelist Short story writer and poet of the naturalist movement though he saw After rejection by several publishers, he destroyed the manuscript.

20th century

• James Joyce's play "A Brilliant Career" (which he burned) and the first half of his novel "Stephen Hero" (which may yet turn up)
• Various parts of Daniel Paul Schreber's "Memoirs of My Nervous Illness" (original German title "Denkwürdigkeiten eines Nervenkranken") (1903) was destroyed by his wife and doctor Flesching for protecting his reputation, which was mentioned by Sigmund Freud as highly important in his essay "The Schreber Case" (1911). Daniel Paul Schreber (25 July 1842 - 14 April 1911 was a German judge who suffered from what was then diagnozed as Dementia praecox. Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded
• "Text I" of Seven Pillars of Wisdom - a 250,000 word manuscript by T. E. Lawrence lost at Reading railway station in December 1919. Seven Pillars of Wisdom A Triumph is the autobiographical account of the experiences of T Reading railway station (formerly Reading General) is a major rail transport hub in Reading. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
• The Irish Public Records Office in Dublin - burnt by the IRA in 1922, destroying 1,000 years of state and religious archives. The National Archives of Ireland (Cartlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann is the official repository for the state records of the Republic of Ireland. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. This article deals with the Irish republican organisation opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty styling itself "Irish Republican Army" as it existed from the time of the Treaty Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
• In 1922, a suitcase with almost all of Ernest Hemingway's work to date was stolen in Paris from his wife. Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21 1899 — July 2 1961 was an American novelist short-story writer, and Journalist. It included a partial WWI novel.
• The novels Tobold and Theodor by Robert Walser are lost, possibly destroyed by the author, as is a third, unnamed novel. For the US musicologist see Robert Walser (musicologist. Robert Walser ( 15 April 1878 near Biel/Bienne, (1910 - 1921)
• Symphony No. 8 (Sibelius). Today virtually none of the Finnish Composer Jean Sibelius 's Symphony No Composer Jean Sibelius mysteriously destroyed his last symphony.
• The original version of Ultramarine by Malcolm Lowry was stolen from his publisher's car in 1932, and the author had to reconstruct it. Malcolm Lowry ( July 28, 1909 &ndash June 26, 1957) was an English poet and novelist best known for his novel Under
• Lost papers and a possible unfinished novel by Isaac Babel, confiscated by the NKVD, May 1939. Isaac Emmanuilovich Babel, Исаак Эммануилович Бабель ( – January 27, 1940) was a Soviet journalist playwright and short story writer who [9]
• Manuscript of Efebos, a novel by Karol Szymanowski, destroyed in bombing of Warsaw, 1939. Efebos (See also Ephebos) is a lost Novel written by Karol Szymanowski, who is best known as a Composer. Karol Maciej Szymanowski (3 October 1882 in Tymoszówka (present-day Ukraine) – 28 March 1937 was a Polish Composer and Pianist
• There are reports that Bruno Schulz worked on a novel called The Messiah, but no trace of this manuscript survived his death (1942). Bruno Schulz ( July 12, 1892 &ndash November 19, 1942) was a Polish Writer, graphic artist and literary
• Some pages of William Burroughs's original Naked Lunch were stolen. William Seward Burroughs II ( – ˈbʌroʊz was an American Novelist, Essayist, Social critic, painter and Spoken word Naked Lunch (sometimes referred to as The Naked Lunch) is a novel by William S
• Three early, unpublished novels by Philip K. Dick written in the 1950s are no longer extant: A Time for George Stavros, Pilgrim on the Hill, and Nicholas and the Higs. Philip Kindred Dick (December 16 – March 2) was an American Science fiction Novelist and Short story Writer. A Time for George Stavros is an early unpublished non- Science fiction Novel by Author Philip K Pilgrim on the Hill is a lost early non-science fiction novel by Philip K Nicholas and the Higs is one of several early unpublished novels by noted Science fiction author Philip K
• The manuscript for Sylvia Plath's unfinished second novel, provisionally titled Double Exposure, or Double Take, written 1962-63, disappeared some time before 1970. Sylvia Plath (October 27 1932 &ndash February 11 1963 was an American Poet, Novelist and Short story Writer.
• The screenplay for the proposed Dean Stockwell-Herb Berman film After the Goldrush is reportedly lost. Dean Stockwell (born March 5, 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Emmy Award -nominated Cannes Award and Golden Globe After the Gold Rush is the third album by Neil Young, and one of four high-profile albums released by each partner of Crosby Stills Nash & Young
• Diaries of Philip Larkin - burnt at his request after his death on 2 December 1985. Philip Arthur Larkin, CH, CBE, FRSL (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985 was an English Poet, Novelist and Jazz Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Other private papers were kept, contrary to his instructions.

Chinese texts

• Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang had most previously-existing books burned when he consolidated his power. Qin Shi Huang ( (259 BC – September 10 210 BC personal name Yíng Zhèng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE (during the See Burning of books and burying of scholars. Burning of the books and burial of the scholars ( is a phrase that refers to a policy and a sequence of events in the Qin Dynasty of China, between the period of
• Classic of Music by Confucius. The Classic of Music ( is sometimes referred to as the sixth " Chinese classic text " but was lost by the time of the Han Dynasty. Confucius ( lit " Master Kung " September 28, 551 BC - 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher
• The library of the Hanlin Academy, containing irreplaceable ancient Chinese manuscripts, was mostly destroyed in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion [10]. The Hanlin Academy ( Chinese: 翰林院 Pinyin: Hànlín Yuàn, literally "brush wood court" was founded in China by Emperor The Boxer Rebellion, or Boxer Movement, was an uprising by members of the Chinese Society of Right and Harmonious Fists against foreign influence
• Medical treatise of the brilliant physician Hua Tuo (traditional Chinese: 華佗; simplified Chinese: 华陀; pinyin: Huà Tuó) from late Eastern Han. Hua Tuo (d 208 was a renowned physician during the Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The treatise was traditionally referred to as Qing Nang Shu (traditional Chinese 青囊書; simplified Chinese: 青囊书; pinyin: Qīng Náng Shū), literally Book in the Cyan Bag. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use When Hua Tuo was sentenced to death after incurring wrath of Cao Cao, who controlled the Imperial Court, the physician tried to entrust the text to his gaoler. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the However, the gaoler was afraid of potentially implicating himself and in disappointment, Hua Tuo had the text burnt. Records of the Three Kingdoms Chapter 29, Book of Wei - Technology 《三国志卷二十九·魏书·方技传》

See also

• Art theft
• Book burning
• Bonfire of the Vanities
• Iconoclasm
• List of comics that were never published
• Lost artworks
• Lost film
• Unfinished work
• Wiping

Further reading

• Stuart Kelly - The Book of Lost Books (Viking, 2005) ISBN 0-670-91499-1
• Leo Deuel - Testaments Of Time: The Search for Lost Manuscripts and Records (New York: Knopf, 1965). Art theft is the Theft of Art. This is usually done for the purpose of resale or Ransom; occasionally thieves are also commissioned Book burning (a category of biblioclasm or book destruction is the practice of destroying often ceremoniously, one or more copies of a book or other written material Bonfire of the Vanities (Falò delle vanità refers to the burning of objects that are deemed to be occasions of sin. Iconoclasm, Greek for "image-breaking" is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious Icons and other symbols or monuments This list will include stories issues of limited / Ongoing series, or even entire series which were proposed promoted or even advertised and solicited for release but for whatever Lost artworks are original pieces of art that cannot be accounted for in museums private collections or known to have been destroyed or neglected through ignorance and lack of Connoisseurship A lost film is a Feature film or Short film that no longer exists in either studio archives or private collections An unfinished work is a Creative work that has not been finished Wiping or junking is an economic move by Radio and Television companies in which old Audiotapes Videotapes and Telerecordings
• Hermann W. G. Peter - Historicorum Romanorum Reliquiae (2 vols. , B.G. Teubner, Leipzig, 1870, 2nd ed. 1914-16)
• Glen Dudbridge- Lost books of Medieval China (London: The British Library, 2000)

External links

• Lost works of Tertullian
• Lost Works of Berosus
• Lost Works of W.A. Mozart
• Weighing Words Over Last Wishes
• The missing masterpieces
• Fragmentary Tragedies of Sophocles Project
• In Search of a Lost JG Ballard Novel
• Hi-tech imaging could reveal lost texts
• The Supression of Lesbian and Gay History

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