Sarcasm just somehow feels modern to me, as if people in older times were always 100% serious about everything, and it's only we in the modern age who can employ sarcasm for purposes of humor, mockery, or disdain.
Obviously this isn't true, yet it's always a shock when I find examples, even from only 50 years ago or so, of people in earlier ages being sarcastic. That got me wondering: What is the earliest documented example in history of somebody employing what we today would recognize as sarcasm?
Homer's Iliad contains at least one instance of sarcasm, e.g. in II.239-242 where Thersites says (in a context where the irascible and volatile temper of Achilles is clear): "Surely Achilles has a heart free of anger, to accept it; or, son of Atreus, that insolent act would be your last".
Following behind the Iliad, I would offer 1 Kings 18.27 as another contender for one of our oldest witnesses to sarcasm (late 7th century BC):
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."
There are other good Biblical examples, such as 2 Samuel 16.20 (context: Michal is not a fan of David's dancing), but this dates from the same period:
David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How the king of Israel honoured himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!”
The Sumerian disputations, from the 3rd millennium BC can probably be considered sarcastic:
Source: The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character, by Samuel Noah Kramer
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
Socrates becomes rather sarcastic at the end of Euthyphro:
Soc. Then we must begin again and ask, What is piety? That is an enquiry which I shall never be weary of pursuing as far as in me lies; and I entreat you not to scorn me, but to apply your mind to the utmost, and tell me the truth. For, if any man knows, you are he; and therefore I must detain you, like Proteus, until you tell. If you had not certainly known the nature of piety and impiety, I am confident that you would never, on behalf of a serf, have charged your aged father with murder. You would not have run such a risk of doing wrong in the sight of the gods, and you would have had too much respect for the opinions of men. I am sure, therefore, that you know the nature of piety and impiety. Speak out then, my dear Euthyphro, and do not hide your knowledge.
Euth. Another time, Socrates; for I am in a hurry, and must go now.
Soc. Alas! my companion, and will you leave me in despair? I was hoping that you would instruct me in the nature of piety and impiety; and then I might have cleared myself of Meletus and his indictment. I would have told him that I had been enlightened by Euthyphro, and had given up rash innovations and speculations, in which I indulged only through ignorance, and that now I am about to lead a better life.