Palindrome Hall of Fame

The best-known palindrome of all time is one by Leigh Mercer (1893-1977): A man, a plan, a canal: Panama.

Napoleon supposedly said Able was I ere I saw Elba when he was exiled to the island of Elba in Italy. Feel free to come up with your own variations by putting words on either side of was I ere I saw. Example: A slut was I ere I saw Tulsa.

The Sator Square is a Latin palindrome found in the ruins of Pompeii. It's arranged in a 2-D form and can be read left-to-right, top-to-bottom, and in reverse directions. What does Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas mean? No one knows, but one interpretation is "The farmer Arepo works a plough."

The Ancient Greek palindrome Νίψον ἀνομήματα, μὴ μόναν ὄψιν (Nipson anomemata me monan opsin) meaning "Wash the sins, not only the face" was inscribed outside Hagia Sophia cathedral and is found near baptismal fonts in many churches.

Know of a palindrome that belongs here? Write to us at (words AT wordsmith.org).