A Scytale (Greek: skytálē) is a cryptography system used by the Spartan Ephors to send secret messages.
The system consisted of two rods of the same thickness that were given to the participants of the communication. To send a message, a ribbon was wound in a spiral shape to one of the sticks and the message was written longitudinally, so that one letter at a time appeared on each turn of the ribbon. Once the message was written, the tape was unwound and sent to the receiver, who only had to roll it to the twin rod to read the original message.
We can find a description of the procedure in the work of Plutarco, Life of Lisandro.
"The Scytale thing is in this way: when the Ephors send one of the commander of the army or general, they cut two round pieces of wood, and entirely equal in diameter and thickness, so that the cuts correspond they keep one of these, giving the other to the named, these pieces are called Scytale. When they want, then, to communicate a secret and important thing, they form a strip of paper, long and narrow like a ribbon, and the They accommodate the piece or scribe that they keep, without it being over or missing, but occupy exactly the entire gap with the paper; once this is done, they write on the paper what they want, being rolled up in the scribe. After they have written, they remove the paper , and without the piece of wood they send it to the general. Received by the latter, he can get nothing out of some letters that have no union, but are each one on its own; but taking his scythale, he spreads the cut of paper, of so that, forming in order the circle , and corresponding some letters with others, the second with the first, everything written is presented followed in sight. It is called the Scytale strip, just like the piece of wood, in the way that what is measured usually carries the name of the measure. "
Our reproduction is served in a flexible wooden box containing:
- Two wooden slats of approximately 20 cm and 4 cm thick with two nails each, which will serve to hold the tape.
- One aged cotton ribbon with the inscription in Greek:
"Athens has been conquered"
- Two rolls of uninscribed cotton tape, each long enough to cover the scythe. That is, with each tape you can make one inscription.
It is a handmade product, so each piece is unique and there may be slight differences in color and shape from the pictures.
International shipments will be made by DHL whenever possible (if DHL considers it a remote area we will notify you and it will be sent by "Correos España", certified with a tracking number).
Transit time with DHL 1 to 3 days.
Please, for international shipments we need you to send us your phone number. If we do not have it, it will not be possible to ship by DHL and the transit time for normal mail is much longer.
Shipments to Spain are made by Correos, certified with a tracking number.
Product made to order. It will be shipped within 7 business days of payment.