In 1988, artist James Sanborn was commissioned to create an outdoor sculpture to adorn the CIA's facility in Langley, Virginia. So he created Kryptos, a 10-foot high scroll of copper filled with letters. Its 865 characters contain, the artist asserts, a coded message. But even the best CIA cryptologists have been unable to crack all of it. One of the four sections remains a complete mystery. At the link, you can read about Sanborn's extensive study of cryptology while planning the sculpture and the passion that it has inspired among devoted codebreakers.
Link via Instapundit
But, I was watching a program about "inside the CIA" and that sculture had a lengthy segment. The artist showed how he encrypted the "puzzle". He had encrypted it differently for each panel though. Ever since I saw that - I occasionally try to figure it out. I kind of work it like a sudoku. One that I know is extremly difficult to solve, so I just work on maybe two squares every now and then.
I do however think the last 97 characters are more simple than the first three panels.And that people are making it more difficult than it is.
When the artist had said "it should unravel and reveal itself slowly" I had thought that one should perhaps copy the statur to paper and roll it up.
But you would have to know the correct diameter that you should roll it up into.
ALLYOURBASEAREBELONGTOUS
There, feel smarter now? :P
Exactly what I was thinking. It would be the perfect prank leaving 100s of people trying to decrypt the impossible.
what an asshole this guy is.
but he's still an asshole.
That is an interesting idea...rolling the paper would maybe allow one to see if letters in one line or section overlap or sit side by side other letters!
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