<Dd> See also: Sumerian literature, Akkadian literature, Ancient Egyptian literature, Hittite texts, Vedic Sanskrit </Dd> <P> Early Bronze Age: 3rd millennium BC (approximate dates shown). The earliest written literature dates from about 2600 BC (classical Sumerian). The earliest literary author known by name is Enheduanna, dating to ca . the 24th century BC . Certain literary texts are difficult to date, such as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which was recorded in the Papyrus of Ani around 1240 BC, but other versions of the book probably date from about the 18th century BC . </P> <Ul> <Li> 2600 Sumerian texts from Abu Salabikh, including the Instructions of Shuruppak and the Kesh temple hymn </Li> <Li> 2400 Egyptian Pyramid Texts, including the Cannibal Hymn </Li> <Li> 2400 Sumerian Code of Urukagina </Li> <Li> 2400 Egyptian Palermo stone </Li> <Li> 2350 Egyptian The Maxims of Ptahhotep </Li> <Li> 2270 Sumerian Enheduanna's Hymns </Li> <Li> 2250 - 2000 Sumerian Earliest stories in the Epic of Gilgamesh </Li> <Li> 2100 Sumerian Curse of Agade </Li> <Li> 2100 Sumerian Debate between Bird and Fish </Li> <Li> 2050 Sumerian Code of Ur - Nammu </Li> <Li> 2000 Egyptian Coffin Texts </Li> <Li> 2000 Sumerian Lament for Ur </Li> <Li> 2000 Sumerian Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta </Li> </Ul> <Li> 2600 Sumerian texts from Abu Salabikh, including the Instructions of Shuruppak and the Kesh temple hymn </Li>

What is the worlds oldest work of literature outside of the bible