Puzzled? 6 interesting facts about mind-bending games

Crosswords, Sudoku, or even agood old fashionedRubik'sCube puzzles are a passion for many people.

The games are a rich part of human culture says puzzle enthusiast andstatistics researcherJonathanBerkowitz.

Over the last century alone they've evolved from newspaper staplestopopular mobile apps.In fact, he says they've actually been confusing people for thousands of years.

Berkowitzjoined host Sheryl MacKay on CBC's North by Northwest to offer some insight into one of humanity's oldest pastimes. Here aresix puzzling facts about mind-bending games:

1. Older than you think

"Some scholars believe that puzzles may be even older than recordedhistory," saidBerkowitz.

One of the earliest surviving manuscripts of human civilization is the Rhind Papyrus an eighteen foot-long scroll that consists almost entirely of mathematical puzzles.

The scroll was found in ruins in Thebes in Upper Egypt, and dates back nearly 4,000 years.

2. They're the original intelligence tests

"According to legend, the first intelligence test ever devised was a puzzle and this is the well-known riddle of the Sphinx," he said.

The Sphinx an entity with the head of a human and the body of a lion is part ofEgyptian, Greek and Syrian culture. And inGreek legend, the sphinx would ravage anyone who could not answer the following riddle:

"What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?"

The heroic Oedipus the King was ableto answer the riddle, which was simply: man.The Sphinx committed suicide shortly thereafter.

3. Puzzle-making is old too

"Charlemagne, the founder of the Holy Roman Empire, was actually one of the first puzzle addicts," saidBerkowitz.

Charlemagne became the King of Italy in 774. One of his first orders of business: hiring a full-time puzzle-maker.

"He was so obsessed, he hired a well known English scholar and ecclesiastical person Alcuin to create puzzles for him it was a full-time job."

4. They've beenprofitable for a while

According toBerkowitz,The Book of Games was a best-seller in the medieval period, which taught readers how to play chess, dice, and cards.

And in the 1980's alone, over 200 million Rubik's Cubes were sold world-wide.

5. 'Crosswords' anaccident

In the late 1800's, puzzles became a cornerstone of newspapers and magazines.

According toBerkowitz, in 1913, New York WorldeditorArthur Wynne introduced a "word-cross" game into his newspaper.

"About two weeks later, there was a type-setting error, and the puzzles appeared under the title 'crossword,'" he said.

6. Anagrams are everywhere

Did you know that you can rearrange the letters from"NovaScotia and Prince Edward Island" into "Two Canadian provinces: lands I dread!"

Anagrams are everywhere, often with hilarious results. And they can make for great puzzles. Here's one to ponder:

What do the words stew, shout, thorn and seat have in common? Hint: the answer is in the "directions."

Answer: they're all anagrams for directions on a compass.

With files from CBC's North by Northwest

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled:Feeling puzzled? Jonathan Berkowitz talks about the history of word games