You can tell it\u2019s a slow time of year around here \u2014 yesterday my neighbor and myself got tired of politics and sports and we got to wondering what the world\u2019s oldest joke was. Well, time for some extensive research on my part.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one really know what the oldest joke that was ever told was, but there seems to be total agreement as to what the oldest example of recorded<\/em> humor was and it dates back to at least 1900 BC. Here\u2019s the joke \u2014 \u201cSomething which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband\u2019s lap.\u201d The \u201cjoke\u201d is a Sumerian proverb that warns new husbands about their flatulent brides. The joke was found on tablets from the Old Babylonian period \u2014 some believe they may date back as far as 2300 BC. I was so pleased with my successful search, I thought I\u2019d see if I could find the world\u2019s second<\/em> oldest joke. And \u2014 once again, success. The world\u2019s second oldest joke likely appeared in the Ancient Egyptian story book known as the Westcar Papyrus<\/em> \u2014 written some time between 1800-1600 BC.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure how these jokes have weathered the test of time \u2014 you probably won\u2019t hear them in any of the comedy clubs or late night television today, but I bet if you were living back then you\u2019d have thought they were pretty funny. You can tell it\u2019s a slow time of year around here \u2014 yesterday my neighbor and myself got tired of politics and sports and we got to wondering what the world\u2019s oldest joke was. Well, time for some extensive research … Continue reading
The joke\u2019s humorous observation was likely an example of playful and relatable humor of the time, reflecting human nature and everyday lives in ancient civilizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"