Life is the laughter of the gods – but sometimes they have a black sense of humor.

Ranking mythologies by their comedy and tricksters, from the laughter of the gods to serious business…

 

S-TIER (GOD-TIER – OR IS THAT JOKER-TIER?)

 

(1) CLASSICAL

 

As for the equal rites of its goddesses or female figures, classical mythology has to rank highly for the laughter of the gods – in the prolific number and enduring iconic nature of myths with comedic elements or trickster figures.

The Odyssey is arguably one long trickster’s tale. Indeed, the origin of dramatic comedy is in Greek theater or drama, which tended to revolve around the tales, themes or tropes of classical mythology.

 

(2) NORSE

 

For a mythology of icy warrior gods holding the line against chaos before being swallowed up by it (literally in the case of Odin), Norse mythology is surprisingly comedic when it comes to the laughter of the gods.

Part of that comes from the prevalence of tricksters, including the head of its pantheon Odin – who always reminds me of a compulsive gambler trying to string out one trick after another to stop the house from winning.

 

(3) CELTIC (ARTHURIAN)

 

Arthurian legend might seem very earnest, but it has quite the comedic streak to it. I mean, the Questing Beast is a gag, right?

Not to mention quite a few trickster figures – I’m counting Merlin.

 

A-TIER (TOP TIER)

 

(4) EGYPTIAN

 

There would seem to be little room for the laughter of the gods in a mythology between the desert and the deep blue sea, but surprisingly Egyptian mythology does come to the party with some divine comedy, albeit some of it seemingly unintentional and more comedic to modern readers – as well as working blue.

There’s the creation myth, admittedly one of many, of the supreme god, again one of many, literally mast*rbating the cosmos into existence – or of the sacred scarab or dung beetle rolling the sun like dung. And the less said about Horus’s special sauce in his salad dressing the better, although I presume that must have been intended as a dirty joke.

 

(5) HINDU

 

A mythology that proposes reality as maya or illusion, and as lila or divine play, is clearly one for laughter of the gods, divine comedy and tricksters.

 

B-TIER (HIGH TIER)

 

(6) NATIVE AMERICAN (LAKOTA)

 

More broadly, Native American mythologies have quite the divine comedy of recurring trickster figures – foremost among them the animal trickster gods Coyote and Raven. I like to draw a direct line of mythic descent from the former to Wile E Coyote as modern trickster.

 

(7) AFRO-AMERICAN (VOODOO)

 

The loa seem to enjoy humor, often of a crude nature.

 

(8) MIDDLE EASTERN (BABYLO-SUMERIAN)

 

There’s some laughter of the gods here and there. Gilgamesh has a few gags.

 

(9) MESO-AMERICAN (AZTEC)

 

A priest sacrificing you and dancing around in your flayed skin isn’t that funny.

Okay, it’s a little funny but perhaps more as horror comedy along the lines of the Evil Dead franchise – or splatterpunk.

 

X-TIER (WILD TIER)

 

(10) BIBLICAL

 

The Bible seems to be very serious business.

Or is it?

You’d be surprised by the Bible when it comes how much divine comedy or how many trickster figures you can squeeze out of it. Some of that is seemingly intentional but even more is unintentional – typically absurdist or black comedy.

What is neither black nor unintentional is the argument that the Gospels are ultimately comedic in nature, essentially along the lines of its eucatastrophe or happy ending in triumph over tragedy.

Taking that a bit further to less serious interpretations, I’ve always been struck by the similarity in style between parables and jokes. And you can’t deny that Jesus had a gift for a snappy one-liner, particularly to hecklers – even when those hecklers include the Devil.