Ancient traveller riddle 1.?

Question

Big Nicks’ travelling chest contains many ancient items, these damaged and incomplete fragments from postcards he scribed make an interesting puzzle.




……. the definitive schadenfreude break. The first was on the river ……..I pondered how it could flow, was a factor missing?…………The next three involved animals. I wish I had staff like that …… The first of my four mounted friends would have been proud of the next two occurrences. I knew what He was up to ………. weather interesting, should have brought a metal umbrella …………the grasshoppers are keeping everyone awake now ……….. the ninth was wonderful for me I have excellent night vision…….the final event will be commemorated for millennia to come, among some groups…….


Can you deduce where and when he went on holiday? Keener intellects may also know the (probable) ruler.

As ever I await your vapid musings with indifference.
The solution will be posted should you all fail……

Eternal: Arghhh….. my tortuous schemes again foiled……Aggggh!!!

Host Consciousness:

The solution is, as some of you have discerned Egypt, at the time of the ten biblical plagues during the reign (probably) of the pharaoh Ramesses II.

Clues explained:

schadenfreude = Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. This sets the tone.

"The first was on the river ……..I pondered how it could flow, was a factor missing?"

This refers to the 1st plague when rivers and waterways turned to blood. The factor missing relates to blood clotting factors that mean the blood would flow and not congeal.

"The next three involved animals. I wish I had staff like that"

The next three plagues were, frogs, lice and flies. Self explanatory.
Staff refers to the powerful staff or rod of Aaron, used to "bring about" these plagues.

"The first of my four mounted friends would have been proud of the next two occurrences"

In this context, the mounted friends are the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first of which (in popular culture rather than scripture) is Pestilence. Plagues five and six were pestilence and boils.

"I knew what He was up to"

Use of capital H in He confirms involvement of God.

"weather interesting, should have brought a metal umbrella"

The seventh plague has been interpreted as involving hail mixed with fire. Hence need of metal umbrella. Certainly interesting meteorological phenomenon.

"the grasshoppers are keeping everyone awake now"

Plague 8 was locusts, a species of grasshopper.

"the ninth was wonderful for me I have excellent night vision"

Big Nick relishes darkness and this was the ninth plague.

"the final event will be commemorated for millennia to come, among some groups"

The final plague was the death of the first borne. This is "celebrated / commemorated" as the Jewish holiday Passover.

The numbers in the puzzle text should additionally mean you are looking for at least 10 occurrences. I.e. plagues.



I know this one is long winded, but I think worthwhile.

No-one has got a thumbs down from me. Hope you all enjoyed.

Very much kudos to Debso for knowing the ruler and era - so very few would know this without research, very well done. If I could give 2 best answers I would, but others solved the main riddle sooner - sorry.

Answer 1

Moses and the ten Plagues in EGYPT

Answer 2

Yeah. It's the 10 plagues of Egypt.

Answer 3

Memphis, about 1260BC is my guess, although God alone knows why on earth he would want such a dire holiday! Perhaps he was hoping to see the Falcon King, Pharaoh Ramases II. :)

Answer 4

3 animals - was it the monkeys? he wish he had staff like them? 4 mounted friends - is tht mountain which has the faces caved in of george washintn, a. lincon, etc??

river - missisippi?

Answer 5

Essex
Saint Ethelbert I

Answer 6

Tooooooooo loooooooooooooooooooong i got fed up at the second sentence , sorry

Answer 7

Yeah i'm on my third bottle of wine now !

Answer 8

You say you're indifferent, but you can't fool me.

I know you're waiting for this answer.