Much ancient literature is lost: two-thirds of Tacitus's Histories, 12 of Plutarch's 60 biographies — including his life of Caesar Augustus

Tacitus's Histories (covering 69–96 AD) are two-thirds lost; the remaining third survives in a single medieval manuscript. Plutarch wrote over 60 biographies, of which 48 survive — we are missing his biography of Caesar Augustus. Papias wrote five volumes of Discourses of the Lord, of which only fragments remain. Papias had contact with an associate of the Apostle John.