Feature The Birth of Comedy From sausage-sellers to suffragettes, questioning and puncturing our political leaders through satire has been essential for democracy ever since comedy was born in Ancient Greece, argues Edith Hall. Edith Hall | Published in History Today Volume 65 Issue 6 June 2015 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Ancient Greece Related Articles Nasty Habits - Satire and the Medieval Monk Roman Satire, Part I: The Republican Tradition Popular articles Why Do Religions Decline? The Iron Amir: Britain’s Afghan Legacy