What’s So Funny?
Discovering and Interpreting Humor in the Ancient World
Humor is a ubiquitous human phenomenon with a wide range of applications. Yet, what is deemed humorous is often culturally determined. This poses a significant challenge for scholars of ancient cultures. How do we identify what ancient cultures found funny? How did they use humor, and what drove their usage?
This conference is a forum for scholars across disciplines to discuss humor and its functions in both textual and material sources across the ancient Mediterranean, from the early Near East through late antiquity. Presentations will explore the use of humor in a variety of contexts, including gender, education, politics, and religion.
Keynote Speakers
Christine Hayes (Yale University)
Amy Richlin (University of California, Los Angeles)
Ian Ruffell (University of Glasgow)
Jack M. Sasson (Vanderbilt University)
Link to Poster [pdf]
Link to Program [pdf]
Free Registration
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