This weekend, the New York City Marathon is scheduled to run by about a block from my apartment. When I first moved to the city about seven years ago, I noticed the Marathon Bank of New York on the corner of the block, and found myself really baffled by the logo. Sometimes I'm really slow about certain things, but it actually took me several years to finally decode it.
This brings to mind: The idea of using more picture-puzzles or glyphs to decode in D&D (as opposed to the perhaps more canonical word-puzzles or chess-based chambers). Do you frequently use picture-puzzles in your games? Can you figure out what the Marathon Bank logo represents faster than I could? (If not, I'll plan to post a hint in the comments.)
Hint: It's the place, not the race.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing...I was initially thinking about the battle of Marathon, but still couldn't solve the puzzle; I read your hint and got it almost immediately. It would be easier if they showed a bit more of the object in question...
ReplyDeleteThat's just it, it's such a weird framing device. Good job!
DeleteIs it supposed to be a side view of the prow of a trireme?
ReplyDeleteI find this odd. Wasn't the Greek victory over the invading Persians at Marathon in 490 bce a land battle? At least the Greeks didn't have ships to oppose the Persians in that battle. Or am I mixing up my history?
That is what it represents. I don't think it's specific to the battle of Marathon. But the bank is owned by the Greek National Bank (a lot of Greek families in the neighborhood), and I think they use the logo as a more general homage.
DeleteWow, that's... a terrible logo. It's like setting up the "Texas Bank of New York" where the logo is a crude line drawing of a corner of John Wayne's mouth and chin.
ReplyDeleteI agree! For a long time I read it as part of the bottom of a sneaker or something.
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