Skip to main content

Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Assassin's Creed Origins Papyrus Puzzle locations: Fertile Land, Divided Valley and more explained

Everything you need to crack those ancient codes and find their hidden loot.

Papyrus Puzzles are a kind of collectible in Assassin's Creed Origins that, when solved, will lead you to a kind of levelled hidden treasure somewhere on the map.

Here on this page, we'll provide you with a list of Papyrus Puzzle locations, as well as their respective Papyrus Puzzle riddles and loot locations.

For more guides though, head back to our main Assassin's Creed Origins guide and walkthrough hub.

Assassin's Creed Origins Papyrus Puzzles explained

There are several Papyrus Puzzles scattered around the world of Origins, and each one holds a clue to the location of a piece of high-end gear for your collection. Some clues are more cryptic than others, so if you're scratching your head trying to figure it out then don't worry, we've done the hard work for you.

While it's possible to collect them all early on in the game we'd recommend spreading them out a little: the items scale to your level when you collect them so if you pick them up too early they'll end up not being much use later on, and on top of that any enemies or wildlife you come across whilst hunting for them will be within the level range of the map region and straying into territory you're not meant to be in yet may result in an untimely death.

Assassin's Creed Origins Papyrus Puzzle locations and solutions explained

1. A Long Drink

Riddle clue: "In Siwa, come find me at the bottom of the only bowl big enough for a god."

The clue is located on a table in the back of the small temple on the southern edge of the populated area of Siwa.

The item can be found in the middle of the circular pool near the south west corner of the large lake. Jump in and wade to the middle to locate it.

2. Fertile Lands

Riddle clue: "A few hundred meters north west of the Temple of Sekhmet in Yamu, which resides by Lake Mareotis, there is a great place to go for a date. Full of palm trees and surrounded by desert, one rock fence was built and closed off with no exit. Find me there."

The clue is located on the upper walkway in the temple courtyard in Yamu; climb one of the pillars to reach it.

The item is hidden in tall grass in a small walled off area; look for the sacks leaning against the wall to identify it.

3. Divided Valley

Riddle clue: "In the centre of Sap-Meh Nome you can find me hidden in a canyon near Anthylla. I'm under a tree that thinks it's unique, but only because the nearby rock bridge is blocking it from seeing the others of its breed."

The clue is located on a small table at the foot of the stairs in the Great Library in Alexandria; you'll walk past it during the opening stage of the Aya story quest.

The item is at the foot of a tree in the western part of the canyon north west of Anthylla Outpost in the middle of Sap-Meh Nome - there's a Crocodile Lair just below it.

4. The Stone Gaze

Riddle clue: "In the south section of Mareotis Lake there is an island full of ruins. A man stares at me all day, it's quite a bother, so I'm hiding behind a column that blocks his sight."

The clue is located in a small room in the south western corner of the Sarapeion in Alexandria, near the south western fast travel point.

The item is almost directly due south of the fast travel point on the island in the south part of Mareotis Lake, tucked behind the ruins of a stone column.

5. Ray of Hope

Riddle clue: "In the Qatara Depression there is only one place that isn't dry and sad. At dawn's first light, there is one tree near the valley's entrance whose roots are halfway between Ra's glory and Apophis's shadow. Find me there but make haste, for Ra moves quickly."

The clue is located at the foot of a statue inside the tower in the Tomb of Alexander the Great.

The item is buried at the foot of the small tree at the north east end of the valley leading to Aquifer Oasis in the Qattara Depression. At dawn the shadow of the rocky ridge will pass through the base of the tree, but the treasure is available at any time of day.

6. Nature's Way

Riddle clue: "In the east section of the Kanapos Nome is a ravaged land, where many trees fell and lost their home. I'm by the orphan tree whose parents fell down nearby, pointing towards their lonely daughter."

The clue is located on a small table in the north west corner of the courtyard at the Great Synagogue in Alexandria.

The treasure is buried near a small palm tree in the centre of the barren area in the eastern part of Kanapos Nome.

7. Dead End

Riddle clue: "In Sapi-Res Nome, north of Letopolis Temple, you can find me in farmland. I lay where man's creation brings the Nile's water to desert sand."

The clue is located on a desk in the southern end of the stables in Kanapos Nome.

The item is at the northern end of the irrigation channel at the western corner of the fields just north of Letopolis.

8. Deafening Silence

Riddle clue: "Alexandria is large and noisy, but one part is quiet, lonely, and surrounded by water. The fallen palm tree points to where I lay, where land meets water."

The clue is located behind the altar in the temple of Iseion on the peninsula in Alexandria.

The item is near the water's edge on the south western part of the island just across the water from the temple.

9. Fallen Friend

Riddle clue: "Two men stand guard on the Memphis eastern canal. The south one looks solemnly at his sunken friend. If you follow his gaze, you can find him and me on the river floor."

The clue is located under the vine-covered trellis in the Temple of Ptah in Memphis.

To find the item head directly east until you reach where the canal joins the Nile; between the southern statue and the sand bar in the river you'll find a shipwreck, and the treasure is on the river bed a few feet to the west.

10. Burning Bush

Riddle clue: "If you head to the other side of the Nile in Ineb-Hedjet Nome, you can find a peak with a great view of the Nile. Take a look around, then come find me, hiding under the only tree nearby."

The clue is located on a desk in the rear of the Webet (where the bodies are prepared for mummification) in the north end of Memphis.

Cross the Nile at the border between Memphis and Ineb-Hedjet Nome, heading towards the southern end of the mountain range on the far side. There's a lone palm tree near the shore, and the treasure is in the bush next to it.

11. Sea of Sand

Riddle clue: "In South East of Iment Nome lies a broken ship. Pass time till morning, an X will mark my hiding spot."

The clue can be found behind the statue inside the Temple of Horus in Sapi-Res Nome.

The broken ship is the fast travel point in the south east of Iment Nome. Head towards the dead tree down the slope to the west of it, then wait until sunrise and the treasure location will be marked by the shadow of the mast. (You don't actually need to wait for the shadow to mark it; just searching the area is fine.)

12. In Plain Sight

Riddle clue: "On an Island south east of Krokodilopolis there is a river with unnatural color. Nearby you'll see the cause, and I'll be inside the only one that's unique."

The clue is located on top of the bookshelf in the small room in the centre of the Palace of Apries.

The item can be found in the grey pool in the south east area of the small island to the south east of Krokodilopolis.

13. Forsaken City

Riddle clue: "At the bottom border of Paraitonion is a village of ghosts. I'm in the house of the blasphemous man, who built his house farthest from Ra, the sun god's, dawning grace."

The clue is sitting on a table in the stone pergola to the rear of the Asklepion in Belgrae, the town in the east of the Green Mountains.

Head to the ruined town of Keno, located on the southern edge of Paraitonion. On the hill just west of the main ruins you'll find a solitary building, and the item is buried in the middle.

14. Just Laws

Riddle clue: "In Atef-Pehu Nome there is a law that states that you can only make pottery on the east side of the road. I'm hidden atop the one illegal clay smoker in the region."

Directly south of Philadelphia there's a small village, and the clue can be found in a small building on the eastern side - look for the pools of brightly coloured water.

The item can be found in a small encampment on the road that leaves to the south of Memphis. Climb the smoking chimney on the western side of the camp, and the item is amongst the pots inside.

15. Sobek's Rage

Riddle clue: "East of Krokodilopolis, south of the shattered pyramid, a large beast of a god stares angrily at a pharoh who shows him no respect. I'm hidden behind the blasphemer's head."

In the room just west of the southern entrance to the Temple of Sobek in Krokodilopolis there's a giant Sobek statue. Climb to the top, and the clue will be located in the corner of the upper ledge around the room.

Head to the pyramid in the east of the region. South of it is another Temple of Sobek, and the treasure is located just south of the statue inside the temple.

16. Royal Flora

Riddle clue: "In southern Herakleion Nome you can find me beneath the tree who fancies himself a king."

Grab the clue from the upper floor of the large villa in Natho on the island in the southern part of Herakleion None.

The treasure is located at the base of the huge tree just south of the Neith Cradle bandit camp on the island to the east of Natho.

17. Wet Work

Riddle clue: "In the Green Mountains where they're building a great aqueduct, go find its source high up in the mountains. Inside, you can find me sitting at the bottom of the lowest pool, tucked away beside two large jars."

The clue is located in the rear of the Oracle of Apollo in the northern area of the Green Mountains.

Head for the western end of the aqueduct in the middle of the Green Mountains, enter the cave, and dive into the pool to find your prize.

18. Twin Despair

Riddle clue: "In Herakleion Nome, East of the temple of Khonsou, is a village that is more water than land. Behind two houses with different problems, one whose feet are always wet, and the other who can't cover his head, you can find me sitting under a tree."

Head through the main entrance of the Temple of Khonsou, located on the large island in Harakleion, and the clue is on a shelf to your right.

Near the centre of the cluster of islands to the east is the village of Yw Huts. In the north west corner of the village is a small brick ruin, and the treasure is under the tree nearby.

19. Stone Fungus

Riddle clue: "In Giza, three pyramids stand tall. From the top of the smaller one you can see quite a lot, even two mushroom rocks, the smaller of which I lay atop of."

The clue can be found in the burial chambers to the east of the fast travel pyramid. Look for the chamber with the hole in the roof, and drop inside.

Directly west of the middle pyramid you'll find two rocks that look a bit like mushrooms. The treasure is on top of the thinner of the two.

20. Dead or Alive

Riddle clue: "In the southwst section of the green mountains lives a monstrous beast with sharp tusks and tough gray skin. In his deadly arena you can find me, between the edge of the arena and where the beast sates his thirst."

The clue is located in the rear left of the main room in the Apollonion of Cyrene in central Kyrenaika.

In the south west of the Green Mountains there's an arena containing a large, angry elephant. The treasure is located along the western edge of the arena next to a small pool of water, but be careful: entering the arena will engage you in combat, you can't climb back out, and at lower levels the elephant will one-shot you. If you're not going to fight him just keep dodging around until you find the loot, grab it, and then await your inevitable death.

21. The Blasphemer

Riddle clue: "There is a place of remembrance for the unfortunate masses in northwest Haueris Nome. While I rest here, immobile, I cannot escape Ra's grace, but at least every dawn I avoid him longer than the others."

The clue is located in the upper set of stalls in Valley Market on the southern tip of Faiyum, just south east of Euhemeria.

In the north west of Haueris Nome there's a makeshift burial area. Head for the north eastern portion, and the treasure is located in front of the second-highest tomb.

22. Underground Currents

Riddle clue: "South of Cyrene, in the Green Mountains, there is a lake whose water comes from a magical stream. I'll be at the source of that magic, where water flows from nothing."

The clue is located inside the Tomb of Battos in Cyrene in central Kyrenaika - climb up the outside and drop into the pool in the middle.

In the Green Mountains directly south of Cyrene is a lake shaped like a 70s moustache, near a fast travel point. Head to the western end of the lake and climb the waterfall and the treasure will be at the top.

23. The Leaning Tower

Riddle clue: "In Faiyum, north of Dionysias Caravanserai, there is a tower with a hole by its feet. It's in need of support, so I sit behind it, but the wooden beams seem more helpful."

The clue is located on the upper level of the Sarapeion of Karanis in the north east of Faiyum; climb the statue to reach it.

The treasure is located behind the lopsided building on the road north west from Dionysias.

24. Undue Haste

Riddle clue: "North of Apollonia, I'm next to a lifesaver. It guides in darkness and fog, and I sit beside it under something that did not heed its warning."

The clue is located on a table to the right of the large statue in the Temple of Zeus in the north east of Cyrene in Kyrenaika.

The treasure is on the northern shore behind the lighthouse on the peninsula in Apollonia, north of Cyrene.


Need more help? Our Assassin's Creed Origins walkthrough and guide will take you through every step of the main story and quests, whilst we also have guides on how to grind XP and level up, plus explainers on how Assassin's Creed Origins sidequests work, alongside how to get crafting materials and animal goods, and even complete solutions and walkthroughs to all Assassin's Creed Origins Tombs, Silica, and Anchient Mechanisms. We also have a list of all Papyrus Puzzle locations, Origins' cursed and legendary weapons and how they're acquired, and finally a detailed page Phylakes, Phylakes' Prey and how to get the Black Hood outfit.


25. Thoth's Secret

Riddle clue: "Southeast of the city Hermopolis is a leapord's den in Uab Nome. At the top of their territory lies a place where birds should live, but do not. If you take a leap of faith, you can find me."

The clue is located at the far end of the Temple of Thoth in western Hermopolis in Haueris Nome.

On the southern side of the water below the tip of Haueris Nome you'll find some ruins perched atop a cliff. Make your way up to them, but beware of the leopards waiting for you. Climb out onto the branch poking over the cliff, and do a leap of faith into the hole below to find the treasure. (You don't actually have to climb all the way to the ruins, and can instead just climb the cliffs below and drop into the hole.)

Read this next