Comedy is a strange genre. Even the best comedies are strongly tied to the time and place of their composition. Just try getting all the jokes in Shakespeare without peeking at the footnotes for help.

But every now and again, a comedic gem shines through the ages, even from as far back as Classical Greece. Maybe this is because ancient Greek ideas are so deeply embedded in Western culture, or maybe Athens just produced some truly brilliant playwrights. Whatever the case, some Greek comedies still entertain millennia after their first performances.

Ancient Greek comedy encompasses centuries, so scholars often break it down into three distinct periods . Old Comedy (5th century BC) is characterized by its focus on social and political issues, with plenty of farce and innuendo. Middle Comedy (400–320 BC) moves away from the political to favor myth-based parodies and stock characters.…