Throughout time, mankind has created countless documents to record laws, preserve nature, and shape the future. The unfortunate truth is, that many of these pivotal texts were lost before they had a chance to impact history. Some were lost in time, and others were intentionally destroyed because people didn’t want them to be seen by others. Either way, these texts could have changed the world as we know it. We hope you’re ready to go back in time because these are 10 historical documents that are lost in the past.
1. The Library Of Alexandria’s Scrolls
The Library of Alexandria was one of the largest and most significant libraries in the ancient world. It housed a vast collection of scrolls and manuscripts. In 48 BCE, there was a fire that accidentally started during Julius Ceasar’s civil war, destroying most of the works contained in the library. Most of the scrolls that survived were lost over time due to neglect and war.
2. The Manuscripts of the Epic of Gilgamesh
The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest known pieces of literature. The ancient Mesopotamian poem tells the story of King Gilgamesh and a companion of his. While fragments have been rediscovered, the complete version of the text was lost before time. The original clay tablets deteriorated, and almost every copy was destroyed in war.
3. Anaximander of Miletus’s most famous work, On Nature
On Nature was a philosophical poem on famous theories about the evolution of the earth, plants, and mankind. This shows that people knew about evolution long before we thought they did. Unfortunately, the text was lost to history around 546 BCE. Sadly, only fragments of the great Anaximander have survived through quotations from other philosophers.
4. The Records of the Babylonian Empire
While the records aren’t entirely lost, most early historical records were lost to time and war. A significant amount of information survived through cuneiform tablets, but during the invasion of the Persian Empire in 539 BCE, many of the original laws for life were lost. Despite the efforts of archaeologists and historians, a substantial portion of Babylonian text was never recovered.
5. The Assyrian King Lists
The Assyrian King Lists, which show rulers of Assyria from the earliest periods, were lost during the fall of the Assyrian Empire. While small portions exist, the complete versions perished during war. This is truly unfortunate because these lists would provide an amazing look into life during this time.
6. The Lost Writings of the Phoenicians
The Phoenicians were known for their contributions to trade, culture, and the development of the alphabet. As you can probably guess, the inventors of the alphabet left many inscriptions and written records, which were unfortunately lost over time. Still, it’s better to know they were lost over time rather than being burned and destroyed to be kept from others.
7. The Zoroastrian Avesta
The Zoroastrian Avesta was a holy book for one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. It survives in a collection of fragments, but it’s estimated that three-quarters of the book has been lost to time. Historians assume most of the book was burned when Alexander the Great conquered Persepolis. The text was a sacred look into the law, literature, and teachings of the prophet Zoroaster.
8. The Panchatantra
The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of animal fables that teaches moral lessons. The works were written around 200 BCE and were divided into five books. Each book focuses on a different aspect of life, including friendship, politics, and wisdom. Unfortunately, the original Sanskrit sources vanished, but there is a Hebrew translation that became the popular version in medieval Europe.
9. The teachings of Pythagoras.
Unfortunately, according to historical records, no authentic writings from Pythagoras have survived. This means all texts we see attributed to him are considered lost, and it isn’t a mistake. The followers of Pythagoras maintained a culture of secrecy, and it is assumed they wanted to remain this way. Now the teachings of Pythagoras are only seen in other philosophers writing.
10. The Works of Sappho
The majority of Sappho’s poems were lost in the 3rd century BCE, though fragments were discovered throughout time after that. Most of Sappho’s works were destroyed by the church due to its provocative imagery, but some were hidden in fragments of papyrus. Historians claim that war, fire, and neglect caused the loss of this work.
