Pillar 4
Pillar 4 contains three ciphers: at the top, a grid of "constellations" of dots joined by lines; a long string of letters winding around the pole; and the ubiquitous numbers around the base. Between the constellation grid and string of letters is an octagonal section in the pillar.
Constellation grid
The top cipher is a grid of non-alphanumeric glyphs that resemble constellations. There appears to be some repetition, so it is possible particular patterns can be represented by letters.
To be transcribed (after a method is identified) and photos compiled. See the image gallery in the interim.
Scytale
The pillar contains an octagonal section above a long string of letters written vertically in a long strip. At either end of the long strip, dividing lines create three separated sections. In the transcription, these are represented with a space.
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AGP SHAL HALIE CNREWTOCTPUWSMEOLOLOADOEEEOSAAHVHEERIPEHNAWLSVMFNCRFICCAESRDENASIHVNBEEIATETAAEOTDMHEHFRSDIETYRARNGUAPNSDPMAENIOTAUSSOCSNACRN IEPAE RURLS SRA |
Solved by Skintigh on Reddit 11 March 2013
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A MESSAGE HID UPON HIS SLAVE SHOWN TO ALL BY CLOSER SHAVE AN ADMIRAL OF ANCIENT GREECE UNCERTAIN OF A PERSIAN PEACE SAW A CODE THAT PROVED MUCH SMARTER HELPED ENSURE HIS WIN FOR SPARTA |
The code talks about the use of tattooing messages in hidden locations (namely a shaved head, then allowing the hair to regrow) by Histiaeus. The history of the scytale is alluded to as being much smarter (and presumably a lot quicker, since one does not need to wait for hair to regrow).
Base
A series of numbers run around the base of Pillar 4:
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10 10 9 12 11 13 15 17 28 3017 18 11 12 8 10 14 15 22 24 12 13 11 12 7 10 8 11 14 17 |
