69 riddles about ancient greece with answers

Ancient Greece was a fascinating civilization that laid the foundations for much of Western culture today. The ancient Greeks made groundbreaking discoveries in areas like science, mathematics, philosophy, and art that still influence our world. One fun way to learn more about this advanced society is by pondering riddles from their time period. Riddles engage critical thinking skills and teach us about how historic Greeks viewed their world. Below are 69 thought-provoking riddles from ancient Greece, along with the revealing answers.

Geography Riddles

These ancient Greek riddles relate to the geography and landscape of the region during ancient times.

1. What has one eye but cannot see? (A needle)
2. Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I? (The word “ton”)
3. I am alive without breath; cold as death; never thirsting, ever drinking. All in mail never clinking. What am I? (A fish)
4. Two sisters: one gives birth to the other and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? (Night and day)
5. Voiceless it cries, wingless flutters, toothless bites, mouthless mutters. (The wind)
6. I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I? (A candle)
7. A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid. (An egg)
8. Thirty white horses on a red hill. First they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still. (Teeth)
9. This thing all things devours: birds, beasts, trees, flowers; gnaws iron, bites steel; grinds hard stones to meal; slays king, ruins town, and beats high mountain down. (Time)
10. What gets wet while drying? (A towel)

Mythology Riddles

Riddles about Greek myths and legends can teach us about their religious beliefs and famous stories.

11. A father and son went fishing one day. The son was drowned, but the father survived. How is this possible? (The father and son were Poseidon and Odysseus)
12. What mythical creature has the head of a woman, the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a serpent? (The Chimera)
13. I rage across the sky, loudly roaring, lightning blazing from my eyes. Who am I? (Zeus)
14. With wings of black, through the night I fly. I take souls to where they must lie. My name makes men shake and cry. Who am I? (Thanatos, Greek god of death)
15. I am a king with golden touch, yet no kingdom or crown. With a stubborn daughter my undoing was bound. Who am I? (King Midas)
16. Winged sandals and cap, messenger of the gods. Quick as lightning across the sky he prods. Who is he? (Hermes)
17. Part goat and part man is my frame. Music and nature are my game. Who am I in Grecian fame? (Pan)
18. My twin and I give you light, though he travels through the day, I illuminate the night. Who are we? (Apollo and Artemis)
19. Half woman fair, half bird in flight, my song calls sailors to their plight. (Sirens)
20. I am a beast you’ll hate to meet, with talons sharp and wings that beat. Half is my body, half is my seat. (Pegasus)

History Riddles

Learn about famous battles, rulers, and events through these riddles from ancient Greek history.

21. We were 300 strong, yet fought many more. To the Hot Gates we did withdraw. Who were we with our Spartan law? (300 Spartans at the battle of Thermopylae)
22. Of olive wood was my gift made, though Greeks did bear it in parade. Victory over Troy is what my presence did aid. What am I? (The Trojan Horse)
23. In his chariot, the god Helios I drove. Too close to my father’s light source I roved. My name is linked with my fate, now forever known as what I failed to escape. (Icarus)
24. Mighty Cnossos was my capital’s name. Master builders of mazes were my civilization’s claim to fame. (Minoan civilization on Crete)
25. Marathon was the field of my run, news of victory to Athens I did bring. Victory sweet, yet I ceased to breathe. Who was I? (Pheidippides)
26. For my misdeeds the gods punished me, to roll a boulder up a hill eternally. (Sisyphus)
27. Hero and monster I did defeat, using wits and bravery as weapons to slay the beast. Who am I? (Theseus defeating the Minotaur)
28. A great warrior in Sparta that led forces in the Trojan War. My heel was my undoing in the end. (Achilles)
29. Goddess of wisdom I am, born from the head of Zeus. The olive tree is beloved to me. (Athena)
30. Ruler of gods I may be, yet I am youngest of those born of Kronos and Rhea. Who am I? (Zeus)

Science and Philosophy Riddles

Ancient Greeks made early discoveries in math, science, medicine and philosophy. These riddles reflect some of their greatest thinkers and ideas.

31. I pondered reality and illusion in my famous cave. My name will be forever linked with this grand symbolic depiction. (Plato)
32. Four elements earth, fire, wind, and water were my philosophy’s central matter. Who am I? (Empedocles)
33. A paradox I did propose: though swiftly flying, it never does move. (Zeno discussing an arrow in motion)
34. 3, 6, 9 signify my perfect number bright. (Pythagoras on perfect numbers)
35. Mighty lever strength through me is known, so let no weight be greater than my own. Upon a place I stand my ground, the moving Earth itself I’ve found. (Archimedes and his lever principle)
36. 92 equal sides has my polygon been defined. In circles within circles am I designed. (Plato on triangular数)
37. This theorem did I devise, that angles of a triangle do equal 180 degrees. (Euclid on his triangle theorem)
38. My atomic theory did opine that atoms do make up all matter’s refined bits. (Leucippus on atomic theory)
39. Of medicine and healing I did learn, that balance in the body’s humors be key to health in turn. Illness and disease are cured when balance is rightfully earned. (Hippocrates)
40. In Syracuse I shouted loud in the crowded square, “Eureka!” for volume’s lesson I did share. (Archimedes finding density of the king’s crown in water)

Sport and Competition Riddles

Athletics and competitive events were a major part of Greek society. See if you can puzzle out these riddles about their sports and games.

41. Naked men compete in this matched pair battle, where strength determines the champion in the end. (Greek wrestling)
42. With armor and shields we do fight, thrusting spears across the sand. Victory crowns the last man standing. (Hoplite fighting)
43. Neither ball nor net do I sport, yet men compete upon a court. With hand and fist they battle there, punching faces without a care! (Greek boxing)
44. Five exercises: jumping, discus, javelin, racing, and wrestling. For a victor’s wreath competitors train with sweat and strain. (The pentathlon)
45. Horses and chariots we race fast, around and around the dirt track. Danger waits if I suffer a crash. (Chariot racing)
46. Running the stadium length coming in first gains acclaim. No torch passing in my simpler game. (Stadion foot race)
47. Two teams of seven and bundled hides. We struggle to carry it o’er the line. (Ancient Greek rugby)
48. With padded gloves comes blows to head and body. The soldier’s sport where toughness leads to glory. (Pankration fighting)
49. Swords we ax wield not, but with sand in hand. Swinging balls as weapons you might understand. (Greek episkyros game similar to field hockey)
50. Discing and javelining I likewise adore, but running and jumping please me more. Champions all strive for victory’s cry, their effort and skill the gods glorify. (Greek pentathlete)

Warfare Riddles

War was another constant in ancient Greece. Test your knowledge on Greek weapons, armor, battle tactics and famous conflicts with these riddles.

51. Bronze head protection, neither cap nor mask. Back and front surveyed when danger I task. (Greek Corinthian helmet)
52. A sturdy shield of wood or forged steel. With single grip I’m carried upon arm and heel. (Greek hoplon shield)
53. Spear of ash wood, my lengthy metal tip their flesh will rip. Or blunted for sport I strike with no gore. (Greek doru spear)
54. A slicing sword for frightful work. My length short yet forces men to shirk. (Greek xiphos sword)
55. Light boat with sail and oars I row, fast raids and retreats I know. (Greek trireme warship)
56. Our formation tight in ranks serried, shields up and spears outstretched and carried. March we forward no man breaking, the enemy line harshly shaking. (Greek phalanx infantry formation)
57. Not throwing but drawing am I best. My string sending arrows through armor’s test. (Greek bow)
58. Flaming pitch and stones I fling, wooden towers to the city I bring. O’er the walls the invaders march, woe to the people my fiery torches scorch. (Greek siege towers and incendiaries)
59. High on city walls they stand, boiling oil we do pour, hoping invaders come no more. (Defensive use of caldrons)
60. Mighty long beams together bound, a great armored roof does drape round. To the gates I lumber slow, inside the men tremble and foes I o’erthrow. (Greek siege tower)

Society Riddles

How much do you know about daily life and social customs in ancient Greek society? These riddles cover details on the home, food, entertainment and more.

61. Woven from wood with wattle daubed with mud. Roof of tiles or thatching when I could. Home I was built sturdy, though fires did shudder. (Ancient Greek house)
62. Center of the house with hearth alight, here meals were made and warmth gained at night. (The megaron)
63. White frothy waves crashing loud, we grind the olives to golden crowd. Dripping sweet liquid fills all the jars, precious golden oil our labour does spar. (Making olive oil)
64. Father’s first teachers were we, child’s lessons done at the knee. Stories and knowledge passed gently down, preparing the next generation in this ground. (Pedagogues who educated sons)
65. Linen and wool our robes were made. Bright colors and patterns my pride evinced. Loose folds gracefully draped modern style pre-quelled. (Greek chiton clothing)
66. I’m held on sticks in hand, dripping sweet honey do I wear my amber band. (Greek honey cakes)
67. Shared gossip I have over jugs of this drink. Barley brewed or wine mixed, social joy in a cup I think. (Kykeon or other Greek drinks)
68. String or pipes to start the tune, dances we step to their croon. Theater, sport or even war, everywhere my motivating rhythms pour. (Greek music)
69. Lover of wisdom my school does prize. Questions and debate we utilize. How to live justly our minds do exercise. (Plato’s Academy school)
70. Vases and jugs I paint, scenes of gods, war and restraint. Artistry cherished with figures lithe, my creations now relics from a far-off time. (Ancient Greek pottery)

Literature Riddles

The ancient Greeks made great strides in written arts and poetry. See if you can decipher these riddles related to their famous writing.

71. Mighty Achilles and great city Troy. Epic battles and a wooden ploy. Homer’s verse of adventure and war did soar, now and forevermore. (The Iliad)
72. Of Odysseus’ journey I do tell, of one trying to get home from Hell. Monsters and nymphs challenge me, but my wit does break free. Homer wrote this, my dear friend, can you name me in the end? (The Odyssey)
73. Woeful Oedipus was my sad man, though fate and family he ran from. (Oedipus the King by Sophocles)
74. Of Seven Against mighty Thebes I told, the sons of Oedipus their destiny did hold. (Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus )
75. In the grove of my namesake heroes do dwell, those fallen in battle Hades keep well. (The Peloponnesian War’s Battle of Plataea mentioned by Pausanias in Description of Greece)
76. Zeus and gods in disguise on Earth did roam, humor and lessons where’er they did roam. (Works by Lucian including Zeus Rants)
77. Mighty leader who Persians fought, my long march and battles their might brought low. (Anabasis, Xenophon’s account of leading Greek mercenaries to Persia)
78. Father of history did I compile, events and dates with wisdom compiled. Wars with Persia my scrolls relate, to later scholars who illuminate. (Herodotus)
79. Female contralto song, we sang in chorus dressed the same. Performing plays the acoustics we did tame. (A Greek tragedy chorus)
80. Word I weave, immortal and divine. Mythic tales in meters I design. Golden apple causes war between three vain powers. Judgement that launches a thousand ships sours. (The poet Homer referring to The Iliad)

Conclusion

Ancient Greece continues to fascinate us today, from their mythology to philosophy, athletics to arts. These riddles provide some insightful glimpses into this ancient civilization while challenging your mental skills. How many were you able to decipher? Learning more about the ancient Greeks helps us understand how aspects of their culture still influence and inspire people in the present day. Keep pondering and learning more riddles to grow your knowledge of the past.