Lost book
A lost book is a book whose existence can only be deduced from secondary traditions. It is therefore no longer available or only preserved in fragments. Reasons for this can be library fires, age, but also book burns or other book destruction.
Examples are the end of the Alexandria library or the extensive loss of books in late antiquity . Due to the loss of tradition of ancient Greek and Latin literature, the number of surviving works is extremely small. But there was also destruction later, for example as a result of church bans on books or during the Thirty Years' War .
Losses before our era
7th century
Alkman : Six books of choral poetry (about 50-60 songs)
4th century
Pytheas : Across the ocean ( Old Greek Περὶ τοῦ ᾿Ωκεανοῦ, Perí tou Okeanoú )
3rd century
Timaeus of Tauromenion : Histories
2nd century
Polybios : Historíai , books 6–40
1st century
Marcus Verrius Flaccus : De verborum significatu
Publius Ovidius Naso : Medea
Loss according to our era
Dio: Getica
5th century
Ablavius : History of the Goths
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus : Historiae
Sulpicius Alexander : Historia
6th century
Cassiodorus : Historia Gothorum
17th century
Cyriacus Spangenberg : Mansfeld Chronica , Part 2