Humor, whether highbrow or downright crass, seems to be an essential part of virtually every human society across the world and throughout time. Researchers have taken an important step towards answering these pressing questions, after revealing the 10 oldest recorded jokes in existence.
1. **Sumeria, 1900 BC**: The world’s oldest joke was a Sumerian proverb, written over 4,000 years ago. ‘Something which has never occurred since time immemorial … A young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.’
2. **Ancient Egypt, 1800-1600 BC**: The world’s second-oldest joke comes from the Westcar Papyrus. ‘How do you entertain a bored pharaoh? You sail a boatload of young women dressed only in fishing nets down the Nile and urge the pharaoh to go catch a fish.’
3. **Sumeria, 1200 BC**: A Sumerian riddle goes: ‘Three ox drivers from Adab were thirsty: one owned the ox, the other owned the cow and the other owned the wagon’s load.’
4. **Unknown, 1100 BC**: A joke about an old married couple: ‘A woman who was blind in one eye has been married to a man for 20 years. When he found another woman he said to her, “I shall divorce you because you are said to be blind in one eye.” And she answered him: “Have you just discovered that after 20 years of marriage?”‘
5. **Ancient Greece, 800 BC**: From Homer’s The Odyssey: ‘Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his real name is “Nobody”. When Odysseus instructs his men to attack the Cyclops, the Cyclops shouts: “Help, Nobody is attacking me!” No one comes to help.’
6. **Ancient Greece, 429 BC**: A brain teaser from ‘Oedipus Tyrannus’: ‘Question: What animal walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon and three at evening? Answer: Man. He goes on all fours as a baby, on two feet as a man and uses a cane in old age.’
7. **Ancient Egypt, 30 BC**: A bawdy joke from ancient Egypt: ‘Man is even more eager to copulate than a donkey. His purse is what restrains him.’
8. **Ancient Rome, 63 BC-14 AD**: A Roman ‘your mum’ joke: ‘The Emperor Augustus was touring the Empire, when he noticed a man in the crowd who bore a striking resemblance to himself. Intrigued, he asked: “Was your mother at one time in service at the Palace?” “No, your Highness,” the man replied, “but my father was”.’
9. **Ancient Greece, 300-400 AD**: A donkey joke from the Philogelos: ‘Wishing to teach his donkey not to eat, a pedant did not offer him any food. When the donkey died of hunger, he said: “I’ve had a great loss! Just when he had learned not to eat, he died”.’
10. **Ancient Greece, 300-400 AD**: From the Philogelos, an ancient joke about the barbers: ‘Asked by the court barber how he wanted his hair cut, the king replied: “In silence”.’
These jokes, spanning centuries and cultures, offer insights into the timeless human pursuit of laughter and amusement.
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