Because he was really good at them. I believe he had a sideline in solving crime too.

EDIT: And, I suppose while I'm at it -

Fact: Barrington Pheloung, who wrote the theme and incidental music for Inspector Morse, included the name of the murderer in morse code at the beginning of each episode, though sometimes deliberately used the wrong one as a red herring.

Fact: The earliest humour is The Satire of the Trades, by the Scribe Ani. Its rubbish, like most ancient jokes.

Satirists also figured importantly in the early, pre-Celtic societies in the British isles -- they served to keep the clan chieftains and the priests from getting too full of themselves.

Four years into his reign, Caligula declared himself to be a living god on Earth. It was also illegal to mention a goat in his presence.

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Great Pyramid still stands.