An enigma or riddle is, as defined by the dictionary, a set of words or symbols with a hidden meaning that often appeals to the ingenuity of the recipient to be discovered and interpreted. In general, the use of this term refers to the composition of a series of words or signs with the purpose of hiding a meaning as part of a childish or witty game. In other cases, one speaks of “enigma” or “enigmatic” when a message is deliberately or unintentionally ambiguous or indecipherable for the interlocutor and its meaning is elusive or difficult to understand.
When the enigma is associated with a puzzle or wit game, it usually contains a series of rules or parameters that stimulate the intelligence of a player or players in order to solve it. This can be done in an educational way, to encourage children’s intellectual development and their sensory initiation by discovering shapes, textures and symbols, for example. But games of ingenuity are also closely linked to hobbies and are often appreciated in intellectual circles or intellectual or mental development.
When the enigma is linked to a riddle, there is not always the intention that the recipient solve it, nor is it necessarily proposed in an educational or playful setting. A riddle can be used to hide information or even as a method of reflection, paradox or creative resource in different fields.
Enigmas are especially very common in artistic works or cultural products. For example, they are often the motive and plot of literary or cinematographic works. One of the best known examples is that of Enigma or Riddler, a fictional character from the Batman comic. The Riddler is a villain who usually wears a green suit decorated with question marks and is obsessed with puzzles and word games.
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