Monday, May 22, 2017
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Ancient crypto stick
In cryptography, a scytale (rhymes approximately with Italy ;
also transliterated skytale, Greek σκυτάλη "baton") is a tool used
to perform a transposition cipher, consisting of a cylinder with
a strip of parchment wound around it on which is written a message. The ancient
Greeks, and the Spartans in particular, are said to have used this
cipher to communicate during military campaigns.
The recipient uses a rod of the same diameter on
which the parchment is wrapped to read the message. It has the advantage of
being fast and not prone to mistakes—a necessary property when on the
battlefield. It can, however, be easily broken. Since the strip of
parchment hints strongly at the method, the cipher text would have to
be transferred to something less suggestive, somewhat reducing the advantage
noted.
Skytale
Friday, May 19, 2017
Temple of Aphaea
The Temple of Aphaia (Greek: Ναός Αφαίας) or Afea is located within a sanctuary complex dedicated to the goddess Aphaia on the Greek island of Aigina, which lies in the Saronic Gulf. Formerly known as the Temple of Jupiter Panhellenius, the great Doric temple is now recognized as dedicated to the mother-goddess Aphaia. It was a favorite of the neoclassical and romantic artists such as J. M. W. Turner. It stands on a c. 160 m peak on the eastern side of the island approximately 13 km east by road from the main port.
Temple of Aphaea Aigina
Lucian True History
A True
History or A True Story (Ancient Greek: Ἀληθῆ διηγήματα, Alēthē diēgēmata; Latin: Vera
Historia) is a parody of travel tales, by the Greek-speaking Assyrian author Lucian of Samosata,
the earliest known fiction about travelling to outer space, alien life-forms
and interplanetary warfare. Written in the 2nd century, the novel has been
referred to as "the first known text that could be called science
fiction". The work was intended by Lucian as a satire against
contemporary and ancient sources, which quote fantastic and mythical events as
truth.
Lucian
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