Aeneid
The adventures of Aeneis the Trojan, and what happens when the gods hate you
19 CEAristotle’s Poetics
A masterclass on poetry and theater — too bad it’s half missing
335 BCEMetamorphoses
The transformations of man and gods from before formation of the world
1 CEOn the Nature of Things
Physics, the mind, soul, the movements of the universe, and sex, obviously
50 BCETen Books on Architecture
How to build roads, buildings and aqueducts with Roman precision
15 BCEThe Epic of Gilgamesh
2100 BCEThe Iliad
800 BCEThe Laws of Manu
Want to become a Brahman? Memorize 1000 laws.
200 BCEThe Mahābhārata
It takes 1.8 million words to describe the meaning of life
400 BCEThe Odyssey
800 BCEThe Ramayana
Rama's journey to rescue his wife from the demon king (she's in another castle)
100 BCEThe Republic
Irony, metaphysics, and the meaning of life
360 BCE