From the laughter of god

From the laughter of god were born the seven gods that govern the world … When he had laughed, the light appeared... He laughed for the second time: everything was water. At the third laugh appeared Heres; at the fourth, creation; at the fifth, destiny, at the sixth, time itself. Then, before the seventh laugh, he took a great breath, but having laughed so much, he cried and from the tears sprang the soul.

Anonymous (3rd Century). From the 3rd century Leyden Papyrus. Cited in Minois G. Histoire du Rire et de la Derision. Paris: Fayard, 2000.