01 Aug 2008
Sumerians cracked world's oldest joke

My favorite ancient jokes are the Anglo-Saxon riddles from the Exeter Book - here's a taste:

I am a wonderful help to women
The hope of something good to come
I harm only my slayer
I grow very tall, erect in a bed
I am shaggy down below
The lovely girl grabs my body, rubs my red skin
Holds me hard, claims my head.
That girl will feel our meeting!
I bring tears to her eyes!
What am I?

The answer? It's an onion, of course. Where was your mind!

UKTV has published what it claims to be the world's oldest joke - a Sumerian rib-tickler dating back to 1,900 BC which goes: "Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband's lap."

(link) [The Register]

07:10 /Humor | 3 comments | permanent link