Viggen 95 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Celebrated classics professor Mary Beard has brought to light a volume more than 1,600 years old, which she says shows the Romans not to be the "pompous, bridge-building toga wearers" they're often seen as, but rather a race ready to laugh at themselves. Written in Greek, Philogelos, or The Laughter Lover, dates to the third or fourth century AD, and contains some 260 jokes which Beard said are "very similar" to the jokes we have today, although peopled with different stereotypes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maty 26 Report post Posted March 16, 2009 Celebrated classics professor Mary Beard has brought to light a volume more than 1,600 years old, which she says shows the Romans not to be the "pompous, bridge-building toga wearers" they're often seen as, but rather a race ready to laugh at themselves. Written in Greek, Philogelos, or The Laughter Lover, dates to the third or fourth century AD, and contains some 260 jokes which Beard said are "very similar" to the jokes we have today, although peopled with different stereotypes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fulvia 2 Report post Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) That is some of the funniest stuff I have read all week! Thanks for sharing! Edited March 17, 2009 by Fulvia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parius 0 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 For anyone who can read Greek you can find the whole book here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Klingan 2 Report post Posted March 18, 2009 I would love to read that book! Thanks for the post Viggen! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placida 0 Report post Posted April 18, 2009 (edited) I'm testing this Forum thing - Why am I a slave? Mary Beard gave the 2008 Sather Classical Lectures at Berkeley on the subject, so there will be a book forthcoming. Edited April 18, 2009 by Placida Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nephele 4 Report post Posted April 18, 2009 I'm testing this Forum thing - Why am I a slave? http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4365 Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sylla 0 Report post Posted April 18, 2009 There's some Hellenic dark humor too: "An intellectual got a slave pregnant. At the birth, his father suggested that the child be killed. The intellectual replied: "First murder your own children and then tell me to kill mine"." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ingsoc 0 Report post Posted April 18, 2009 Here are a few jokes translated into English: http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/quinn_jokes.shtml http://www.curculio.org/Ioci/december.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites