Palindromes

The word 'palindrome' is coined from Greek roots 'palin' - 'back' and 'dromos' - 'way, direction' by english writer 'Ben Jonson' in the 1600s. Any word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction is called as Palindrome.

Did you know that -
1. Palindromes date backs to the era of A.D. The palindromic Latin word square "Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas" was found as a graffito (A rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls) at Herculaneum (Ancient Roman city) , buried by ash in 79 A.D.
2. The most complex and exquisite type of palindrome ever invented in Sanskrit, appears in the 19th century epic poem sisupala-vadha by Magha. The text is
sa-kA-ra-nA-nA-ra-kA-sa-
kA-ya-sA-da-da-sA-ya-kA
ra-sA-ha-vA vA-ha-sA-ra-
nA-da-vA-da-da-vA-da-nA
3. In Molecular biology, recognition sequences vary widely, with lengths between 4 and 8 nucleotides, many of them are palindromic, which correspond to nitrogenous base sequences that read the same backwards and forwards.
4. In music, some of the composers have incorporated palindromes to some of their compositions. You can find more details at http://musiced.about.com/od/faqs/f/palindromes.htm
5. The word Malayalam (Indian language) is a palindrome and stays a letter palindrome when written in devanagari.
6. There are many palindromic words and phrases. The most famous is – ‘A Man, a plan, a canal – Panama’ and ‘Madam’. You can find more about palindrome words at http://www.fun-with-words.com/palindromes.html
7. Palindromic Numbers have some interesting properties and are studied in recreational mathematics. You can know more on numbers at All About Palindrome Numbers.

Interesting world of Palindromes right! Do share if you know something more.