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Part of
Humour in the Beginning: Religion, humour and laughter in formative stages of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism
Edited by Roald Dijkstra and Paul van der Velde
[Topics in Humor Research 10] 2022
► pp. 208–218

Greek and Buddhist jokes and their corresponding versions in classical Arabic literature

| University of Göttingen

Classical Arabic literature preserves one of the internationally largest repertoires of jokes and humorous anecdotes. As a rule, Arab humour focuses on human foibles, particularly ignorance and stupidity, and does not ridicule the basics of the religion of Islam. Although most of the texts relate to indigenous Arabic tradition, a certain amount can be traced to ancient Greek and Buddhist sources. The present contribution discusses this material. Whereas a relation between Greek and Arabic jokes, however difficult to prove with certainty, is fairly likely, the problematic aspects of hypothesizing about any direct relationship multiply when we consider Buddhist jokes.

Keywords: Arabic jokes, Classical Arabic literature, Greek jokes, Buddhist jokes, Philogelos , comparative folkloristics, book of 100 parables
Published online: 27 October 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/thr.10.15mar
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