title: Unable to select from SYS.TABLES - Table or View does not exist
body: <p>I read that </p>
  
  <pre><code>USER_TABLES is tables which you own
  ALL_TABLES is tables which own, and tables owner by other users, which you have been granted explicit access to
  DBA_TABLES is all tables in the database
  All three are views of the underlying SYS tables
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Based on the above and mention of SYS.TABLES in the Oracle Docs, I tried to</p>
  
  <pre><code> select * from SYS.TABLES;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but it resulted in an error that the table or view does not exist. I tried as both SYS and another username.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Question 1:</strong>
  Is SYS.TABLES a valid table in Oracle 11g ?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Question 2:</strong>
  If yes, is SYS.TABLES the underlying table for the view DBA_TABLES ?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Question 3:</strong>
  If yes, what privileges do I need to select from the SYS.TABLES ?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Question 4:</strong>
  How do I find the underlying column and the tables for a view such as DBA_TABLES ?</p>
  
  <p>I have edited the question. Sorry about the confusion I caused earlier.</p>