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Post by cleglaw on Jul 21, 2007 5:59:41 GMT
This is a riddle I composed for an email pun group I belong to. I thought some people here might enjoy taking a stab at it. All of the solutions share a common theme--apart from dentistry. Once you recognize the theme, the solutions should become apparent. I'll give clues when I get reasonable guesses or questions.
A warning to Venom--I don't think this will be your cup of tea. But who knows? You might surprise us with a newfound appreciation of what I hope is refined wit.
Now for the puzzle:
According to the ADA website, around 500-300 BC—treatises were written about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and gum disease, extracting teeth with forceps, and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws.
As adults have 32 teeth some would think that they must have written 32 treatises on the subject—one for each tooth. This is not the case and is a matter of dispute by scholars who put the number at 24 or as high as 39. Clearly there is not, therefore, one book for each tooth, but rather each book touches on a different aspect of dental care.
Test your knowledge of these ancient dentistry texts by accurately naming the ones for which I have provided clues below.
1. This one is actually a name given to a particular group of volumes in the series. It’s title suggests that the ancients had fewer than 6 teeth by the time they reached adulthood.
2. Women were not permitted to be dental hygienists in ancient times.
3. After dental hygiene was performed, the mouth could be said to be in this state.
4. The name of one of the teeth.
5. Dental anesthetics
6. What happens to your teeth if they do not get proper dental care
7. Where the teeth belong
8. If this book were left out then dentists might do terrible things.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Jul 21, 2007 7:32:40 GMT
I'm gonna take a wild stab at this... Well some of this ;D Please let me know if I'm on the right lines 1 2 3 Aquafresh 4 Crest 5 Sensodyne 6 Thera Breath 7 8 The Natural Dentist
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Post by Venom65437 on Jul 21, 2007 7:40:02 GMT
I love how you singled ME out! And here I think I no one notices me... Anyway, it's wayyyyyyyy too late for me to think about this, but perhaps I'll give it a shot after work tomorrow...
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 21, 2007 12:08:03 GMT
I'm gonna take a wild stab at this... Well some of this ;D Please let me know if I'm on the right lines 1 2 3 Aquafresh 4 Crest 5 Sensodyne 6 Thera Breath 7 8 The Natural Dentist Very good guesses, Elliott. However the secondary theme which underlies the answers is not toothpaste, and none of the guesses are close. Look at the information in the setup There are clues here to the theme. And this secondary theme has nothing to do with dentistry. Keep trying. You are obviouely a thinker.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Jul 21, 2007 12:30:55 GMT
My second guess would be some sort of numeric pattern with double meanings, so "6. What happens to your teeth if they do not get proper dental care" would be 'Septic' - being both seven (sept) and a word that fulfills the clue. I could get less answers though:
1. Pentiad (Five) 2. Sexist (Six) 3. 4. Bi-cuspid (Two) 5. 6. Septic (Seven) 7. 8.
Is this anywhere close?
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 21, 2007 15:33:47 GMT
My second guess would be some sort of numeric pattern with double meanings, so "6. What happens to your teeth if they do not get proper dental care" would be 'Septic' - being both seven (sept) and a word that fulfills the clue. I could get less answers though: 1. Pentiad (Five) 2. Sexist (Six) 3. 4. Bi-cuspid (Two) 5. 6. Septic (Seven) 7. 8. Is this anywhere close? I really like "septic" and "Sexist" . Those are clever albeit not what I was looking for. The numbers in my setup do provide a clue to the theme though not the way you suggest. However, #1 does relate to the number 5 and does use the Greek root "pent" in the answer.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Jul 21, 2007 19:20:15 GMT
Am I looking at 53322439 as the linguistic base?
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 21, 2007 19:32:11 GMT
Am I looking at 53322439 as the linguistic base? I don't know what that means. Think about it this way. There was something written before christ which some scholars say has 24 treatises and some say has as many as 39. What would that be?
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Post by Elliot Kane on Jul 21, 2007 19:38:53 GMT
...Blowed if I know, unless it's some religious tract, like the Torah or the Upanishad... Either way, I'll have to admit defeat at this point, I fear.
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Post by Ubereil on Jul 21, 2007 20:00:28 GMT
Am I looking at 53322439 as the linguistic base? I don't know what that means. Think about it this way. There was something written before christ which some scholars say has 24 treatises and some say has as many as 39. What would that be? The old testimoney? Übereil
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 21, 2007 20:21:26 GMT
I don't know what that means. Think about it this way. There was something written before christ which some scholars say has 24 treatises and some say has as many as 39. What would that be? The old testimoney? Übereil testimoney? Pun intended? Yes. The Hebrew Scriptures number 24 books, but protestant sects call it 39 books. All right. Now that you know the second theme give the answers a shot. Elliott already has the 1st half of the word of answer #1--Pent
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Post by Ubereil on Jul 21, 2007 21:21:33 GMT
The old testimoney? Übereil testimoney? Pun intended? Yes. The Hebrew Scriptures number 24 books, but protestant sects call it 39 books. All right. Now that you know the second theme give the answers a shot. Elliott already has the 1st half of the word of answer #1--Pent Nah, it was only a translationmistake . And the reason I don't make any guesses is because I've never read the old testament (nor the new one), so I don't know very much about it. Übereil
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 22, 2007 0:20:15 GMT
Ubegooggle the old testament. Something there might ring a bell for you. Put the books of the old testament. together with: See what you can come up with.
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Post by killerzzz on Jul 22, 2007 3:22:43 GMT
I have an idea that might help solve the rest, maybe. 1. Pentacle. 3. Cleansed. 4. Canine. 6. Decay. These all feel right, but they're probably wrong. Killerzzz
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 22, 2007 4:08:03 GMT
I have an idea that might help solve the rest, maybe. 1. Pentacle. 3. Cleansed. 4. Canine. 6. Decay. These all feel right, but they're probably wrong. Killerzzz From my previous post you know that they all relate to the old testament. 1. You know it starts with Pent. Now take a term that refers to a a group of 5 volumes in the old testament and make it into a pun relating to teeth. 3.Cleansed huh? Nope. 4. Canine is the name of a tooth--wrong tooth--and the pun needs to be both a tooth and a book of the old testament. 6. Decay -- nope. the answer here is a pun made up of 5 words which when put together sound like a book of the Hebrew Scriptures. Good try!
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Post by tclark on Jul 22, 2007 5:15:54 GMT
1. Pentateuch - Pun = Pentatooth 2. Ruth - Pun = Root 3. 4. Song of Solomon - Pun = Wisdom Tooth 5. Esther - Pun = Ether 6. 7. Amos - Pun = A mouth 8.
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 22, 2007 11:29:34 GMT
1. Pentateuch - Pun = Pentatooth 2. Ruth - Pun = Root 3. 4. Song of Solomon - Pun = Wisdom Tooth 5. Esther - Pun = Ether 6. 7. Amos - Pun = A mouth 8. Now we are getting somewhere! Good show TC! 1. Pentateuch - Pun = Pentatooth Correct! Hint: And I will add that the titles of all 5 books of the Pentateuch are punned upon in this riddle. 2. Ruth - Pun = Root Ruth is punned on but not in #2, and not as the word "Root". 4. Song of Solomon - Pun = Wisdom Tooth Nice thinking. Maybe even better than the answer I was looking for. 7. Amos - Pun = A mouth Nope. Hint: A better riddle for this one would be: Your teeth do not belong in your shoe.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Jul 22, 2007 14:26:40 GMT
Congrats Troy! I would never have gotten those!
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Post by tclark on Jul 22, 2007 14:27:04 GMT
1. This one is actually a name given to a particular group of volumes in the series. It’s title suggests that the ancients had fewer than 6 teeth by the time they reached adulthood.
Pentatuech (confirmed)
2. Women were not permitted to be dental hygienists in ancient times.
Genesis - Pun = Gee no sis
3. After dental hygiene was performed, the mouth could be said to be in this state.
Exodus - Pun = Ex oh dust
4. The name of one of the teeth.
Ruth - Pun = Rooth (as said by a dog) one of the teeth is called a tooth
5. Dental anesthetics
Numbers - Pun = "Numb"ers
6. What happens to your teeth if they do not get proper dental care
Deuteronomy - Pun = Due to rot on me
7. Where the teeth belong
Nehemiah - Pun = Near my "AH"
8. If this book were left out then dentists might do terrible things.
Leviticus - Pun = Leave it I cuss
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Post by cleglaw on Jul 22, 2007 15:04:31 GMT
Excellent job!
Close enough! Ex odors Ex oh dust--close enough! Notice that up to this point we have had each of the 5 books of Moses in their proper order. In fact all these books would all be in order if I hadn't skipped Judges. Try again. Good. Or just plain Numbers Yes!! You are good.
No. A different book.
See my comment about #4.
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