Some original riddles

[Oscar]

And just to clarify:
in #46 I'm looking for a particular phrase that aptly completes the rhyme.
(which, now we're on a new page, I'll repeat)

46.
I'm found on the eye they say
Or I'm carried by a jay
I'm only very little
I'm called a <what?> or <what?>

[3iff]

I have to say that's brilliant. I gave the correct answer to a puzzle that hadn't actually been submitted at the time.

It's also one of the rare times I've given the right answer to a riddle.

BTW Is #44 ... easy? I think it may be. That was tough!

[Oscar]

There's good news and bad news, 3iff.

The good news is that your answer to #44 is correct.

The bad, almost tragic, news is that you haven't got the answer to #46, even though it was inspired by your post #189. (see post #200)

The alternative good news is that there might be another puzzle topic to come out of this...

[Zag]

Is there a word for that little dot on the top of a lower-case i or j? I thought it was just "dot."

[Sentran]

[carrier_of_the_arch]

I think you got it for #46 Zag and Sentran. "Tittle" does complete that rhyme quite nicely!

[Oscar]

Tittle does indeed complete the rhyme, but what about the other <what>? (Feels like a comedy routine about to kick off here!)

[3iff]

Oscar.

See, I said I was bad at riddles...although in my defence I did provide an answer before the question was set...(also I didn't atually read the riddle when it was published!).

[Jack_Ian]

Dare I tattle which what's what?
Which what?
The what that's not yet got, that's what.
To inviz the answer, care I not, a jot.

[Oscar]

I don't care who's got which what, but between you you've got both whats!

The phrase is jot or tittle

[carrier_of_the_arch]

Comedy routine indeed

[bgg1996]

[Oscar]

Nice puzzle, bgg1996, no wonder you wanted to get it off your chest!

47.
I' m unique! (Well, among those with whom I operate)
Sadly, I used to be more valuable a few thousand years ago.
But even now I'm highly valued.
In fact on special occasions I'm worthy of my brother in yet a third assembly!

What am I?

[carrier_of_the_arch]

#47 makes me think of some kind of precious metal like gold or silver, which would have been highly valuable a long time ago, but since exceeded in value by say platinum
This will take some thought

[Oscar]

Beware, carrier_of_the_arch!
Riddles generally (and this one in particular) are couched in language designed to point you in the wrong direction!

[carrier_of_the_arch]

Ok, for the sake of posting a ridiculous sounding answer/s in the hope of making some kind of headway: a big-toe or opposable thumb

[Oscar]

It's not a ridiculous guess, carrier_of_the_arch, but it's certainly way off!

Hint: think about a civilisation that might have been dominant a few thousand years ago.

[bgg1996]

Maya, Aztec, Greece, Rome, Sparta? Europe? England? China?
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[Oscar]

Yes

[carrier_of_the_arch]

Well from that list Aztec/Maya can be seen as brothers, as can be Ancient Greece/Roman. In terms of mythology the latter are very similar, and references to them are everywhere still in modern times.
China would be my pick though, if Oscar was indeed hinting that the answer was there somewhere!

[Oscar]

Only one third of the answer is suggested by that list, so don't go looking for 'brothers' within it. Also look for a civilisation whose dominance was particularly marked a couple of thousand years ago

[carrier_of_the_arch]

Perhaps the great Ancient Egyptian Empire, which was conquered by Alexander the Great (who was Greek) in 332BC and then became a Roman province in 30BC? Or Persia, which was also conquered by Alexander the Great at around the same time?

[Oscar]

This is a tough one, so time for a few hints:
Hint 1: Which civilisation peaking about 2 thousand years ago is the puzzler's friend?
Hint 2: 'I' am a physical object, but my two 'brothers' are not

[bgg1996]

Does iot have anything to do with religion?



Aztec?
Maya?
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[Gomez*]

D'oh! Got it (I think). Is it Bronze?

[Oscar]

Interesting try, Gomez, but cigarless, I'm afraid!
Further hints: This civilisation controlled most of Europe and the Near East. And the values hinted at are all specific

[Suspence]

Guesses based on hint 2, I am a physical object:

1) Trojans, as in condoms/viruses/college football
2) Ottoman, as in footstool
3) Persians, as in rugs/cats
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[carrier_of_the_arch]

Are you something like a counting system invented by an ancient civilisation? An abacus perhaps? Other guesses: the Great Wall of China, the Great Sphinx of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

[carrier_of_the_arch]

Wait, am I highly valued as in I contain numbers and/or letters (as opposed to monetary value)?

[bgg1996]

The answer is Rome.
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[bgg1996]

I still don't know why though.
Maybe Roman numerals?
The two brothers being binary and, ummm, uhh, normal?
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[carrier_of_the_arch]

I think the word you're looking for is "Arabic" bgg1996 Well, the ancient Romans were the first to use the sundial...and there is also the Roman calendar (which was superceded by the Julian and Gregorian calendars- the two "brothers"?)

[Oscar]

Well, I guess we're inching slowly forward! Elements of post #231 are correct
Another hint: 'I' (the only physical 'brother' remember!) am a modern entity, and way more insignificant than most of the guesses so far.

[L'lanmal]

How about the programming language/gemstone Pe(a)rl -- based on the value, operating, and assembly hints?

[bgg1996]

When did the Romans invent a programming language?
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[carrier_of_the_arch]

How can something be "more valuable" a few thousand years ago and still be a modern entity?
And L'lanmal might be onto something...although I don't see the ties between his answer and Rome (Is there a programming language that is based on the roman counting system?...but I thought all modern computers operate on binary)

[Icarus]

[Oscar]

L'lanmal's answer could have worked if pearl had been either of the 'brothers' but unfortunately not.
[Remember the 'brothers' are not physical, while 'I' am]
Big hint:
A Roman numeral is one of my brothers

[bgg1996]

Is the answer a letter?
The letter 'I'?
Or an eye?
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[carrier_of_the_arch]

Eye, I, aye! Yeah, that could work