RANK

TEXT

AUTHOR

YEAR

AGE

LOCATION

DESCRIPTION

1

Kesh Temple Hymn

Unknown

c. 2600 BC

4,624 years

Iraq

Ancient Sumerian hymn dedicated to the goddess Ninhursag.

2

Instructions of Shuruppak

Unknown

c. 2600 BC

4,624 years

Iraq

A series of advice from a father to his son.

3

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

Ptahhotep

c. 2350 BC

4,374 years

Egypt

Wisdom literature containing maxims on proper behavior.

4

Pyramid Texts

Unknown

c. 2300 BC

4,324 years

Egypt

Religious texts inscribed in pyramids, intended for the dead.

5

Epic of Gilgamesh

Sîn-lēqi-unninni

c. 2100 BC

4,124 years

Iraq

An epic poem recounting the adventures of Gilgamesh.

6

The Coffin Texts

Unknown

c. 2100 BC

4,124 years

Egypt

Funerary texts used in burial practices.

7

The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor

Unknown

c. 2000 BC

4,024 years

Egypt

A narrative poem about a sailor's journey and survival.

8

Hammurabi’s Code

Hammurabi

c. 1754 BC

3,778 years

Iraq

One of the oldest deciphered writings, a set of laws.

9

The Vedas

Vyasa

c. 1700 BC

3,724 years

India

Sacred texts of Hinduism, consisting of hymns and rituals.

10

The Book of Job

Unknown

c. 1550 BC

3,574 years

Israel

A biblical text exploring suffering and faith.

11

The Book of the Dead

Unknown

c. 1550 BC

3,574 years

Egypt

Collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts.

12

The Instructions of Amenemope

Amenemope

c. 1300 BC

3,324 years

Egypt

A collection of ethical maxims.

13

The Odyssey/The Iliad

Homer

c. 800 BC

2,700 years

Greece

Epic poems about the adventures of Odysseus and the Trojan War.

14

Etruscan Gold Book

Unknown

660 BCE

2,684 years

Unknown

A unique Etruscan text inscribed in gold.

15

Pyrgi Gold Tablets

Unknown

500 BCE

2,524 years

Italy

Inscribed gold tablets with a bilingual inscription.

16

Medea

Euripides

c. 431 BC

2,455 years

Greece

A tragedy about Medea and her revenge.

17

The Symposium

Plato

c. 385 BC

2,409 years

Greece

Philosophical text exploring love through a series of speeches.

18

Nag Hammadi Codices

Various

350 CE

1,674 years

Egypt

A collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts.

19

St Cuthbert Gospel

Unknown

700 CE

1,324 years

England

The oldest intact European book.

20

Book of Kells

Unknown

800 CE

1,224 years

Ireland

An illuminated manuscript of the Gospels.

21

Siddur, Jewish Prayer Book

Various

850 CE

1,174 years

Unknown

A Jewish prayer book containing daily prayers and rituals.

22

Diamond Sūtra

Unknown

868 CE

1,156 years

China

The oldest known printed book, a Buddhist text.

23

The Tale of Genji

Murasaki Shikibu

c. 1000 CE

1,024 years

Japan

Considered the world's first novel, detailing Hikaru Genji's life.

24

Celtic Psalter

Unknown

1150 CE

874 years

Ireland

A collection of Psalms in Old Irish.

25

The Divine Comedy

Dante Alighieri

1320 CE

704 years

Italy

An epic poem depicting the journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

26

The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer

1400 CE

624 years

England

A collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

27

Gutenberg Bible

Johannes Gutenberg

1455 CE

569 years

Germany

The first major book printed using movable type.

28

Utopia

Thomas More

1516 CE

508 years

England

A political and philosophical text describing an ideal society.

29

Madrid Codex

Unknown

1550 CE

474 years

Mexico

An ancient Maya book containing rituals and ceremonies.