Palestine is a land rich in history, culture and intrigue. For centuries it has been at the center of conflicts and contested by different groups. Despite this, the Palestinian people have maintained a strong sense of cultural identity. Their long struggles have birthed a powerful tradition of poetry, literature and symbolism. Riddles in Arabic called “alghāz alfilastiniyya” (الغاز الفلسطينية) are a core part of this culture.
In this article we have collected 32 riddles from Palestine with explanatory answers. Some touch on historical or political themes unique to the region. Others focus more generally on Palestinian language, food, agriculture and way of life. Read on to stretch your mind and learn surprising things about this captivating land!
Geography and farming riddles
Riddle 1
A lake without water, mountains without rocks, trees without branches. What am I?
Answer: The desert. Much of historic Palestine is covered by dry, barren landscapes with sand dunes reminiscent of oceans. This riddle poetically hints at the surprising life that exists even in extremely arid places.
Riddle 2
I am long and thin like a snake. Farmers use me to water their crops drop by drop. What am I?
Answer: An irrigation hose. Palestinian agriculture has battled water scarcity for thousands of years. Using efficient irrigation methods allows crops to grow even in dry areas.
Riddle 3
I am a natural fortress high above rivers and plains. Armies have struggled to conquer me for millennia. What am I?
Answer: Masada – an ancient plateau fortress overlooking the Dead Sea. Its extreme height and isolation made it almost unconquerable. Masada remains a proud symbol of tenacity for Jewish people and is now a popular tourist site.
History and politics riddles
Riddle 4
Two mothers without children, two daughters without mothers. Who are we?
Answer: Gaza and the West Bank – the two separated Palestinian territories. Sadly the split often cuts families off from each other.
Riddle 5
An old king who lost his crown but kept one wall. What is he?
Answer: The Old City of Jerusalem dates back over 4,000 years. Many medieval walls still stand along with sacred sites from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Despite fractures, Jerusalem remains a centerpiece of Middle Eastern history and politics.
Riddle 6
I am home to shining domes built long ago by an empire obsessed with geometry and patterns. What am I?
Answer: Jerusalem – The Dome of the Rock’s golden roof was completed in 691 AD under the Umayyad dynasty known for advanced construction based on mathematical principles. The iconic mosque sits on a site holy to multiple faiths.
Culture, food and language riddles
Riddle 7
Small spheres like precious gems that you crack with your teeth to uncover a delicious green treasure inside. What are we?
Answer: Za’atar – wild thyme plants that grow around the Middle East. Palestinians pick and dry the berries then mix them with sesame seeds, salt and olive oil to make the beloved za’atar spice blend used on breads, meats and more.
Riddle 8
I am white as snow but never cold. I have thin layers like the walls of a fine house. You can eat me plain or filled with cheese, spinach or meat. What am I?
Answer: Warak enab – grape vine leaves stuffed with various fillings then cooked. They are a tasty Palestinian staple. The translucent cooked leaves resemble stacked thin pages – a perfect pairing for rich stuffings.
Riddle 9
A small bush with flowers so brief that you can barely catch their fragrance before it disappears on the breeze. What is this plant that Palestinian poets have used for centuries to symbolize melancholy and evanescence?
Answer: Zaafran – Saffron crocus plants produce extremely short-lived purple blooms which must be immediately harvested to extract precious saffron spice strands. The raw stigma have an intoxicating aroma that quickly fades after picking.
Riddle 10
Its hills and valleys can form words. Storms may erase parts of it without warning. Great thinkers have cultivated it for ages. What is it?
Answer: The Arabic language – Specifically its cursive script with flowing letters that join together like topography. Palestinian poetry and calligraphy date back thousands of years. Language itself has been called the “homeland” that can never be lost.
Society, religion and identity riddles
Riddle 11
A people bonded not by blood but by our desire to remain on beloved lands torn between two mighty forces – forever pressed like olives between stones. Who are we?
Answer: Palestinians – Their strong attachment to historic Palestine and collective identity formed through generations of external pressures to abandon their homes and assimilate.
Riddle 12
Once a staple food during hard times but now a rare luxury. In form we resemble coins but have a hole in the center. What are we?
Answer: Falafel – fritters traditionally made from fava beans or chickpeas. Falafel balls have a round donut shape. They used to be an affordable everyday meal across the Middle East. But rising prices of ingredient imports to Palestine have made falafel less common.
Riddle 13
A mighty fortress with towering walls that has withstood attacks for over a millennium in a fierce desert. I am the holiest place in the world for over a billion believers. What am I?
Answer: The Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia containing the Kaaba shrine. As the most sacred site in Islam, it has special significance to Palestinian Muslims despite lying outside historic Palestine’s borders. The Great Mosque’s beginnings trace back over 1,400 years.
Riddle 14
A people with neither kingdom nor army who have continually refused to surrender or flee despite a century of pressures to dissolve into the sands of time. Who are they?
Answer: Palestinians again – alluding to their statelessness despite resolute demands for self-determination in a sovereign homeland to preserve their distinct identity and heritage.
Youth and future hopes
Riddle 15
Often battered, sometimes even shredded through conflicts beyond our control, but always proudly flying high once more as a sign of our spirit that persists. What banner are we?
Answer: The Palestinian flag – first designed in 1917 during Ottoman rule but only formally adopted in 1964 by the PLO. The iconic red, white, green and black colors symbolize bloody struggle plus hopes for a prosperous future.
Riddle 16
A wise woman with one hundred possible faces. She holds the keys that can unlock chains and open doors if you ask the right questions. Who is she?
Answer: Education and learning – which offer paths out of oppression for young Palestinians. Quality schools and universities let students discover their strengths while pushing for positive change.
Riddle 17
When we are many colors we bring joy to children’s parties. But when forced to be black and white, we show the grim injustice of occupation. What are we?
Answer: Handala – a cartoon child character created by popular Palestinian artist Naji al-Ali. Handala wears patched ragged clothes due to poverty under Israeli rule. He is always drawn from behind, symbolizing his refusal to normalize relations until migrants can return home.
Landscapes and nature
Riddle 18
I am not a real sea though I share its primal name. My waters are ten times saltier than the ocean. What am I?
Answer: The Dead Sea – Actually a super salty lake where people can float on the mineral-rich waters. It sits in the Jordan Rift valley along Palestine’s western border. With no outlets, the Dead Sea keeps getting saltier over time.
Riddle 19
I am a giant transformer – by day a dusty yellow desert, by night a glittering sky of stars over camps filled with music and stories that have flowed for generations. What am I?
Answer: The Negev region – covering over 60% of Israel’s land area. By day it hosts parched earth and Bedouin settlements whose way of life is threatened. But under dark skies untouched by city lights, the arid land comes alive.
Riddle 20
My shape echoes the number one in Arabic. I am not rich in oil, gold or diamonds but have inspired greed and conflict unmatched across the globe. What land am I?
Answer: The Gaza strip – a narrow piece of coastal territory packed with over 2 million Palestinians. Its borders crudely resemble Arabic numeral “1”. Despite no material wealth, Gaza’s strategic location has made it central to regional power struggles for millennia.
Riddle 21
A towering ancient fortress set atop a high plateau that housed a desperate rebellion against mighty Rome. According to legend, which Jewish commander’s wife took her own life there rather than face capture?
Answer: Masada was seized in 73 AD by Jewish zealots rebelling against Roman rule. When the plateau was finally breached after months, the leader Elazar Ben Yair gave a speech about dying with dignity before 1060 people committed mass suicide. Two women and five children survived by hiding inside a cistern. According to first century historian Josephus, Eleazar sent his wife and children to death by fire before he and his fighters drew lots and killed each other.
Joy and sorrow
Riddle 22
A bittersweet brew – black as midnight with hints of cardamom and cloves. You politely pour me into tiny cups for guests, but tradition says I should be so strong that even a quick sip without sugar might make one shiver and shed a tear. What am I?
Answer: Very strong Arabic style coffee. It is often prepared in the Gulf style; boiled in ornamental dallah pots then poured from height to froth it. The strong flavor and heating effects are meant to create a rich cultural experience that connects people.
Riddle 23
A heavenly tree that remains firmly rooted on earth, whispering ancient secrets from Arabia through our scented flowers and silvery green leaves that gracefully dance on the breeze. What are we?
Answer: Olive trees – a ubiquitous symbol of Palestinians’ deep ties to their fertile land which nourishes this iconic crop. The olive branch represents hopes for peace. Traditionally olive groves are passed down across generations.
Riddle 24
You can glimpse us dancing in embroidered dresses as red as poppies at vibrant weddings filled with the sound of drums. But blink and the beautiful scene will melt away, leaving only mourning black as night. What are we?
Answer: Palestinian cultural dabke folk dances. The colorful swirling movements celebrate bonds, joy and continuity of generations. But the turbulence since 1948 means celebrations can instantly transform into funeral processions.
Daily life
Riddle 25
Plump, golden spheres flecked with spices, patiently simmering in cottonseed oil in homes across Palestine. Our crisp shells enclose a fluffy, mildly sweet interior that hides a burning red heart. What are we?
Answer:Sambusak pastries – fried half-moon dumplings with onion, chickpeas and chili sauce inside a pastry shell. They make cheap, tasty snacks sold everywhere. Their glowing yellow color and contrasting spicy filling metaphorically represents the complexities of daily Palestinian life.
Riddle 26
Skilled hands deftly weave me into many forms over and under itself – keychains, coasters, pillows or blankets flow from earth toned wool decorated with bright bands of color. Light filters in between the gaps as tradition is reborn into art. What am I?
Answer: Palestinian keffiyehs – cotton headdresses with distinctive checkered patterns in red and white or black and white. Women do elaborate macrame style handicrafts such as keychains using leftover fabric strips. The keffiyeh itself has become an iconic symbol of Palestinian culture, struggle and nationalism.
Riddle 27
I gleam with silver patterns that resemble moonlight on the desert joined into circular frames intricately decorated with beads, old coins and pale seashells. What ornament am I?
Answer: Bridal dowry chests that hold textiles, jewelry and valuables for Palestinian brides. The lovingly painted and decorated chests represent women’s honor, social status and the dream of larger freedom.
Riddle 28
we are gritty dark spheres pressed from oil harvested from thousand-year-old trees rooted in this land. Our intense flavor gloriously cuts through sweet pastries, savory dishes and breakfast breads. We also fuel bright lamps that have lit scholars’ long nights for generations. What are we?
Answer: Palestinian olive oil has been central to culture and cuisine for ages. Hillsides blanketed by gnarly old olive trees are iconic sights. The oil even fuels traditional stone lamps with floating wicks to light homes at night.
Palestinian icons
Riddle 29
My mismatched sandals hint at a childlike innocence lost too soon through exile from home and years rubbing shoulders with fighters old before their time. My scruffy hair and wrinkled clothes mirror the poverty my nation endures while my fierce dark eyes silently condemn oppression. I vow to keep facing away until all my people can freely return. Who am I?
Answer: Handala again – the iconic cartoon by Naji al-Ali, an exile who grew up in refugee camps. The barefoot 10 year old boy refuses to show his face until Palestinian refugees gain the right of return. His raggedness represents material poverty but fierce dignity in statelessness.
Riddle 30
My slender form stands tall as I balance large urns on my head brimming with fruits of the fertile land I love. My embroidered dress glows white to match my humble veil and serene smile as the setting sun illuminates the flowering cacti behind my silhouette. You glimpse me on murals flying over colorful streets and painted on posters calling for freedom. Who am I?
Answer: Leila Khaled – the young female member of the militant group PFLP who participated in airplane hijackings in 1969 and 1970 to raise awareness of Palestinian struggles against expulsion from their ancestral lands. Her image clutching a rifle and grenades while wearing traditional Tunisian dress grew iconic worldwide.
Riddle 31
My bitter alkali taste belies great nobility though I resemble a thistle. My name may confuse you but my royal purple blossoms and green spikes with spiky tops shaped like crowns have represented Palestine for centuries though few realize this truth. What flowering plant am I?
Answer: Al-Kilab, known scientifically as Gundelia Tournefortii – a thistle-like plant native to the Levant region. Its buds produce a bitter substance used in Palestinian cooking. The regal appearance and defensive spikes led 16th century botanist Leonhard Rauwolf to name it after the German word for “royal” which then morphed into “al-kilab”. Locals proudly call it the Palestinian thistle though few outsiders link it to Palestine.
Riddle 32
My nickname means “comelier of the two” since I stand taller than my twin though we have walked arm in arm for eons. Local tribes called me Jebel Usdum meaning “hill of sand” while visitors named me after ruin and desolation, not knowing life springs eternal from my depths. What is my real name?
Answer: Sodom mountain at the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea. At 1,020m (3,346ft) it overshadows the higher but less spectacular Mount Gomorrah nearby which Israel calls Masada. Biblical references to ruined wicked cities make outsiders view Sodom peak as a wasteland, but springs within it nourish diverse wildlife. Palestinians proudly call it Jebel Usdum, refusing to let ancient scriptures shape its modern image.
Conclusion
Riddles make you view a topic sideways – offering surprise insights into history, values and self-image. We hope unraveling this set of 32 puzzles related to Palestine, its land and some iconic symbols sparked fresh thoughts on this captivating country filled with creative spirits who transform struggle into beauty. Let the riddles expand your awareness so new solutions can take seed to bear sweeter fruit for coming generations. Did a particular riddle make your day? Please share in the comments!
