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.
201–300
1 work
c. 217–222
Greek
Philostratus · c. 170 – c. 250
The life of a first-century wandering Pythagorean sage commissioned by the empress Julia Domna: miraculous birth, travels to India and Egypt, healings, an exorcism, a girl raised from her bier, a trial before Domitian, a disappearance, and an appearance afterwards to a doubting disciple.
301–400
1 work
c. 311–313
Greek
Eusebius of Caesarea · c. 260 – c. 340
A governor active in the persecution had written a book setting Apollonius of Tyana beside Christ and arguing that the pagan wonder-worker was the better attested of the two. Eusebius answers by going through Philostratus's biography and asking what in it a reasonable person would actually believe.
501–600
2 works
c. 585–590
Latin
In Gloria Martyrum
Gregory of Tours · c. 538 – 594
A hundred and six short chapters on relics and what they did: oil that flowed, a candle that would not go out, thieves struck down, and a Jewish man who took an icon and was found out by the blood it wept.
593–594
Latin
Gregory the Great · c. 540–604
Four books of miracle stories about Italian holy men, the second devoted entirely to Benedict, and the fourth to the fate of souls after death.
601–700
1 work
c. 610–680s
Greek
John of Thessalonica and an anonymous continuator
The patron of Thessalonica defends his city through plague, famine, and a series of Slav and Avar sieges — appearing on the walls in white, capsizing boats, and turning back siege engines. The narrator was inside for several of them.
1201–1300
1 work
c. 1219–1223
Latin
Caesarius of Heisterbach · c. 1180–c. 1240
Hundreds of stories told by a novice master — demons in the cloister, deathbed visions, a knight who cannot say the Lord's Prayer, monks who fall asleep in choir.
1401–1500
1 work
c. 1400–1450 in Ge'ez
Ge'ez
Ta'ammera Maryam
Anonymous
Marian miracle stories translated from Arabic and greatly expanded with Ethiopian material, read liturgically and illustrated in brilliantly coloured manuscripts.
7 of 1774 works