Discussion » Questions » History » Idle speculation: what do you think might have been the first advertisement of a product for sale?
Randy D

Idle speculation: what do you think might have been the first advertisement of a product for sale?

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Posted - February 8, 2023
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Responses


  • 5450

    A beer advertisement from ancient Mesopotamia, circa 4000 BCE:


    The linguists who translated this believe it says ”Drink Elba, the beer with the heart of a lion.”

      February 8, 2023 12:20 PM MST
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  • 44873
      February 8, 2023 1:30 PM MST
    8

  • When I wasi n Ephesus, I saw a sign for a brothel and I  was told it was the world's oldest advertisement. I can't confirm that.



      February 8, 2023 4:10 PM MST
    4

  • 17361
    Probably when a lady in "the world's oldest profession" dropped her skirt and wiggled it. Words unnecessary, we hadn't even invented language at that point. This post was edited by Slartibartfast at August 17, 2026 6:26 PM MDT
      February 8, 2023 5:00 PM MST
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  • 54002

     

      Good points, except that not all advertising consists of words or relies on words: images are also an n extremely large part of advertising.
    ~

      February 9, 2023 8:34 AM MST
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  • 842
    Idle answer (I didn't even bother to look it up):
    Before humans had written language, it was most likely an image of their product or an actual sample of their product on display hung from a cart or a stall.
      February 9, 2023 12:39 PM MST
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  • 13268
    Is speculation ever not idle?
      February 9, 2023 1:01 PM MST
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  • 54002
    Yes, there are instances in which speculation is an avid and extremely direct aspect of one’s profession, such as people who work at stock exchanges, economists, insurance actuators, statisticians, sports aficionados, researchers, scientists, pundits, behavioral specialists, etc., (Think broadly, not narrowly.)
    ~
      February 9, 2023 3:10 PM MST
    3

  • 13268
    True.
      February 9, 2023 8:00 PM MST
    3

  • 24572


    "Monkey See, Monkey Dew!"


    Edit: Eh, yeah, bad answer - - I was sending Mountain Dew back in time, along with the catch phrase, just to sell Dew to way-back-then monkeys


    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at August 18, 2026 7:27 AM MDT
      August 17, 2026 6:25 PM MDT
    1