Post by Lonely on Oct 11, 2022 11:29:36 GMT
Can you solve these tricky riddles from over 1000 years ago?
Many ancient riddles are told in the first person, so readers have to guess the identity of the person, animal or object 'speaking' to them.
For example:
1/- "Everyone who goes on the road eventually stops for a rest.
But my road never ends, and I never get to stop.
I endure a perpetual journey which the years cannot stop,
Nations and kings cannot prevent my journey."
a/- A messenger.
b/- A river.
c/- The sun.
2/- A man had to transport a wolf, a goat, and a bag of cabbages across a river. But the only boat that he could find could only carry the man and one of them at a time. He was told to carry them all across unharmed. Can you explain how he did it?
a/- Transport the wolf. Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat and take the wolf back with you. Transport the wolf.
b/- Transport the goat. Transport the wolf, and take the goat back with you. Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat.
c - Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat, and take the cabbage back with you. Transport the cabbage. Transport the wolf.
3/- Two men were leading some oxen down the road, when one said to the other, "Give me two oxen, and I will have as many oxen as you.” To which the other replied, “After that, if you give me two oxen, I’ll have twice as many as you."
How many oxen did each man end up with?
a/- The first man has two. The second man has six.
b/- The first man has four. The second man has eight.
c/- The first man has six. The second man has eight.
4/- "I am biting but I do not bite anyone, and many want to bite the biter.
Don’t be scared: I do not have any teeth!"
Who am I?
a/- A key.
b/- An ostrich.
c/- An onion.
5/- "A house full of spines and a guest small of body,
With an unharmed back, pierced by sharp spears.
This unarmed dweller travels with armoured crops."
What is this riddle about?
a/-A hedgehog.
b/- A cactus.
c/- A thistle.
6/- An ox ploughs a field all day. How many footprints does he leave in the last furrow?
(A furrow is the long trench that a plough makes in the soil)
a/- Four.
b/- We don't know.
c/- None.
7/- "I have little courage but great resources:
I do not seek wealth, but I give it to others.
Wandering around, I eat humble foods,
And I am often forced to give up my wealth.
People keep my body close to them.
I have no money, but even kings value me."
Who am I?
a/- A sheep.
b/- A dog.
c/- A swan.
Answers:
1/-A 2/- B 3/- B 4/- C 5/- A 6/- C 7/- A
Many ancient riddles are told in the first person, so readers have to guess the identity of the person, animal or object 'speaking' to them.
For example:
1/- "Everyone who goes on the road eventually stops for a rest.
But my road never ends, and I never get to stop.
I endure a perpetual journey which the years cannot stop,
Nations and kings cannot prevent my journey."
a/- A messenger.
b/- A river.
c/- The sun.
2/- A man had to transport a wolf, a goat, and a bag of cabbages across a river. But the only boat that he could find could only carry the man and one of them at a time. He was told to carry them all across unharmed. Can you explain how he did it?
a/- Transport the wolf. Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat and take the wolf back with you. Transport the wolf.
b/- Transport the goat. Transport the wolf, and take the goat back with you. Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat.
c - Transport the cabbage. Transport the goat, and take the cabbage back with you. Transport the cabbage. Transport the wolf.
3/- Two men were leading some oxen down the road, when one said to the other, "Give me two oxen, and I will have as many oxen as you.” To which the other replied, “After that, if you give me two oxen, I’ll have twice as many as you."
How many oxen did each man end up with?
a/- The first man has two. The second man has six.
b/- The first man has four. The second man has eight.
c/- The first man has six. The second man has eight.
4/- "I am biting but I do not bite anyone, and many want to bite the biter.
Don’t be scared: I do not have any teeth!"
Who am I?
a/- A key.
b/- An ostrich.
c/- An onion.
5/- "A house full of spines and a guest small of body,
With an unharmed back, pierced by sharp spears.
This unarmed dweller travels with armoured crops."
What is this riddle about?
a/-A hedgehog.
b/- A cactus.
c/- A thistle.
6/- An ox ploughs a field all day. How many footprints does he leave in the last furrow?
(A furrow is the long trench that a plough makes in the soil)
a/- Four.
b/- We don't know.
c/- None.
7/- "I have little courage but great resources:
I do not seek wealth, but I give it to others.
Wandering around, I eat humble foods,
And I am often forced to give up my wealth.
People keep my body close to them.
I have no money, but even kings value me."
Who am I?
a/- A sheep.
b/- A dog.
c/- A swan.
Answers:
1/-A 2/- B 3/- B 4/- C 5/- A 6/- C 7/- A