Scytale
Scytale is an ancient cipher device associated with the Spartans and other Greek communities. It is a form of transposition cipher that relies on wrapping a strip of writing material around a cylinder to conceal the message.
To use a scytale, a sender wraps a strip of parchment or leather around a rod of
Historical context and usage: The method is described by ancient writers such as Herodotus in connection with
Security and limitations: The security of the scytale rests on the secrecy of the rod’s diameter and
Legacy: The scytale is frequently cited in histories of cryptography as an early example of device-based transposition