The Library
1774 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
500–401 BC
1 work
c. 495–399 BC
Aramaic
The Jewish garrison at Elephantine
The archive of a Jewish military colony on an island in the Nile: marriage contracts, loans, slave sales, a Passover letter, and a petition to the governor of Judah asking permission to rebuild their temple to Yahu after the priests of Khnum tore it down.
101–200
2 works
c. 112
Latin
Epistulae X
Pliny the Younger · c. 61 – c. 113
A provincial governor's correspondence with Trajan, including the letter asking what to do about Christians. He has been executing those who persist, torturing two deaconesses, and finding nothing but a depraved and excessive superstition — they meet before dawn, sing to Christ as to a god, and bind themselves by oath not to steal or commit adultery.
c. 165
Greek
Anonymous
The court transcript of Justin's trial before the prefect Rusticus. Asked where the Christians assemble, Justin says he lodges above the baths of a man named Martin and knows of no other meeting place. Six others answer in turn and all are beheaded.
201–300
3 works
1 September 256
Latin
Sententiae Episcoporum
The Council of Carthage
The minutes of a council on whether converts baptised by heretics must be baptised again. Each bishop speaks in turn and is recorded by name and see, and Cyprian opens by saying that no one sets himself up as a bishop of bishops or compels his colleagues by terror.
12 March 295
Latin
Anonymous
A twenty-one-year-old conscript at Theveste refuses the lead seal of enlistment. The proconsul points out that there are Christians serving in the imperial bodyguard right now; Maximilian answers that they know what is good for them, and that he cannot do evil. His father takes the body home.
298
Latin
Anonymous
A centurion at Tingis throws down his belt, vine-staff, and weapons in front of the legionary standards during the emperor's birthday sacrifice, and says that from now on he serves Jesus Christ the eternal king and stops soldiering for the emperors.
401–500
1 work
c. 449–450
Greek
Theodoret of Cyrus · c. 393–c. 460
A history from Arius to 428 written from the Antiochene side, preserving many letters and conciliar documents in full.
901–1000
1 work
c. 948–952
Latin
Flodoard of Reims · 893–966
A history of one great see built directly out of its archive, with hundreds of letters and charters summarised or quoted from documents now lost.
8 of 1774 works