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.
1–100
1 work
c. 80
Greek
Anonymous
A Jewish oracle in Greek hexameters, put in the mouth of the pagan Sibyl, running through the empires to the eruption of Vesuvius and the rumour that Nero had fled east and would return. It calls for repentance, washing in rivers, and hands raised to heaven.
101–200
2 works
c. 116
Latin
Annales
Tacitus · c. 56 – c. 120
Rome from Tiberius to Nero, told with contempt for nearly everyone in it. In the fifteenth book, Nero fastens the guilt for the fire on a class hated for their abominations, whose founder Christus was executed by Pontius Pilate — and the crowd's pity turns to the victims covered in skins and torn by dogs.
c. 100–130
Greek
Anonymous
An Egyptian Jewish oracle burning with rage at Rome for the temple, running through the emperors by the numerical value of their initials and promising that Nero will return from the East to destroy the city that destroyed Jerusalem.
3 of 1774 works