Laughter in Ancient Rome. What They Joked About and What They Laughed At in the Eternal City

Laughter in Ancient Rome. What They Joked About and What They Laughed At in the Eternal City

What did the ancient Romans joke about? What provoked their 'ironic smile' or made them 'roll with laughter'? What role did jokes play at the imperial court, in the gladiatorial arenas, and even in court? The reader will find answers... to these and many other questions in this publication. Mary Beard, a renowned British expert on Ancient Rome, explores one of the most intriguing and complex issues — the culture of laughter. Drawing on a wide range of sources — from the immortal 'Bucolics' of Virgil and the provocative novel of Apuleius 'The Golden Ass' to the oldest collection of anecdotes 'Philogelos' and the witty treatise of Macrobius 'Saturnalia', — the author introduces the reader to ancient Roman humor, trying to answer the main question: will we ever truly understand the jokes of the Romans? The publication is addressed to historians, classical philologists, and a wide range of readers interested in the culture of Antiquity.

Author: Мэри Бирд

Printhouse: AST

Series: History and Science in Detail

Age restrictions: 12+

Year of publication: 2025

ISBN: 9785171632625

Number of pages: 416

Size: 217x171x30 mm

Cover type: hard

Weight: 600 g

ID: 1698871

What did the ancient Romans joke about? What provoked their 'ironic smile' or made them 'roll with laughter'? What role did jokes play at the imperial court, in the gladiatorial arenas, and even in court? The reader will find answers to these and many other questions in this publication. Mary Beard, a renowned British expert on Ancient Rome, explores one of the most intriguing and complex issues — the culture of laughter. Drawing on a wide range of sources — from the immortal 'Bucolics' of Virgil and the provocative novel of Apuleius 'The Golden Ass' to the oldest collection of anecdotes 'Philogelos' and the witty treatise of Macrobius 'Saturnalia', — the author introduces the reader to ancient Roman humor, trying to answer the main question: will we ever truly understand the jokes of the Romans? The publication is addressed to historians, classical philologists, and a wide range of readers interested in the culture of Antiquity.

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