The oldest books in the world is a title contested by several ancient texts, each holding significance in its own right. One contender is the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” an ancient Mesopotamian poem dating back to the 18th century BCE. Preserved on clay tablets, it recounts the adventures of Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk.
Another contender is the “Pyramid Texts,” a collection of ancient Egyptian religious texts inscribed on the walls of pyramids around 2400 BCE. These texts provide insights into the religious beliefs and rituals of the time.
The “Rigveda,” part of the Vedas, ancient sacred scriptures of Hinduism, is also among the oldest. Composed in Sanskrit around 1500 BCE, it consists of hymns dedicated to various deities, offering a glimpse into the early religious practices of ancient India.
China’s “I Ching” or “Yijing,” a divination text, is another ancient work, with roots possibly dating back to the Western Zhou period (1046–771 BCE). It is a complex system of divination based on hexagrams, reflecting Chinese cosmology and philosophy.
Each of these ancient books provides a unique window into the cultures and beliefs of their respective civilizations, offering invaluable insights into the human experience across millennia. The preservation of these texts underscores the enduring quest for knowledge and understanding throughout history.
