Laughter is one of the oldest forms of human expression, and humor has been around for thousands of years. But have you ever wondered what the oldest recorded joke in history is? Surprisingly, it dates back over 4,000 years to ancient Sumer (modern-day Iraq), and yes—it’s about toilets!

The World’s First Joke
The joke was discovered on a Sumerian tablet from 1900 BCE and goes like this:

“Something which has never occurred since time immemorial;
a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.”

That’s right—the oldest joke in history is a fart joke! It plays on the idea that passing gas is an unavoidable part of life, making it a timeless and relatable piece of humor. Even thousands of years ago, people found bodily functions funny—just like we do today.

Ancient Jokes Were Surprisingly Familiar
While the humor might seem simple, it shows that human nature hasn’t changed much. People in ancient times laughed at awkward, everyday situations, just like we do now. In fact, some of the oldest known jokes involve toilet humor, marriage, and human foolishness—themes that are still common in comedy today.

Other Early Jokes
The Sumerians weren’t the only ancient culture with a sense of humor. A joke from Ancient Egypt (1600 BCE) goes:

“How do you entertain a bored pharaoh?*
*You sail a boatload of women dressed in fishing nets down the Nile, and tell the pharaoh to go catch a fish.”

Even the ancient Romans had joke books! A famous Roman collection called Philogelos (meaning “Laughter Lover”) from 4th century CE contains over 200 jokes, many about absent-minded professors and dumb politicians—subjects that still get laughs today.

Humor is Timeless
The world has changed dramatically over the last 4,000 years, but one thing has stayed the same—we love to laugh. Whether it’s an ancient fart joke or a modern meme, humor connects us across time, proving that some things never get old!