An Unsolvable CIA Cryptogram
Maybe it's National Treasure 3?
Mystery Mob!!
Do you like CIA mysteries? Do you like National Treasure (who doesn’t)? Then this week’s mystery is for you!
We’re talking about the infamous sculpture KRYPTOS installed just outside CIA HQ.
But first here’s the answer to Wednesday’s riddles:
Something makes me,
Then you take me,
Then you break me,
Then remake me.
What am I?
Answer: An egg.
Did you solve it? We know it was tough. And remember, if you like a riddle challenge, Your Daily Riddle, our more challenging and daily riddle subscription is now FREE.
Anyway, let’s see if you can crack open the unsolved puzzle that is… KRYPTOS.
Central Intelligence Agency- Langley, Virginia
On November 3, 1990, American artist Jim Sanborn installed a large sculpture on the grounds of the CIA. At 12 feet tall and 20 feet long, the sculpture comprises four large copper plates and is made up of other elements consisting of water, petrified wood, red & green granite, and white quartz.
But the main element is the large copper screen, resembling a scroll, covered in encrypted text.
There are four hidden messages within the text, three of which have already been solved.
The sculpture was named Kryptos, coming from the ancient Greek word for “hidden,” and it’s theme is “Intelligence Gathering.” Over 30 years later, the sculpture has yet to be solved...
Fifty-five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend
Okay let’s get to the good stuff…
The first three passages were decrypted all within the 90’s (one of them by a team from the National Security Agency), but the last passage remains unsolved. Here are the 3 solved passages:
“BETWEEN SUBTLE SHADING AND THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT LIES THE NUANCE OF IQLUSION.”
The second includes the location of C.I.A. headquarters by latitude and longitude, and asks: “DOES LANGLEY KNOW ABOUT THIS? THEY SHOULD: IT’S BURIED OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. X WHO KNOWS THE EXACT LOCATION? ONLY WW.”
“SLOWLY, DESPARATLY SLOWLY, THE REMAINS OF PASSAGE DEBRIS THAT ENCUMBERED THE LOWER PART OF THE DOORWAY WAS REMOVED. WITH TREMBLING HANDS I MADE A TINY BREACH IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER. AND THEN, WIDENING THE HOLE A LITTLE, I INSERTED THE CANDLE AND PEERED IN. THE HOT AIR ESCAPING FROM THE CHAMBER CAUSED THE FLAME TO FLICKER, BUT PRESENTLY DETAILS OF THE ROOM WITHIN EMERGED FROM THE MIST. X CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING? Q”
The fourth section is shorter than the others- a mere 97 characters. An entire organization literally built to gather intelligence and crack codes has been unable to solve this last passage. But the artist, Sanborn, has started dropping clues...
The artist is literally begging us to solve it
In 2006, Sanborn claimed that the answers to the first three passages actually contain clues to solving the fourth passage. This, apparently, wasn’t a large enough hint to solve it so, again, Sanborn released another clue in 2010, stating that the "NYPVTT", the 64th–69th letters in passage four, become "BERLIN" after decryption.
And still… nothing. November, 2014- Sanborn gave the NY times another clue: the letters "MZFPK", the 70th–74th letters in passage four, become "CLOCK" after decryption. But once again… unsolved.
On January 29, 2020, Sanborn revealed his latest clue- at positions 26–34, ciphertext "QQPRNGKSS" is the word "NORTHEAST".
Well, it’s been over a year and the world’s finest have yet to crack it, even with four pretty big hints.
Can you crack it?
According to the NY Times, this is the best way to approach solving the fourth section:
“If you would like to try to solve Kryptos yourself, start with Ms. Dunin’s encyclopedic site and read the work of Kim Zetter at Wired. Dr. Bauer goes into a detailed description of how the first three passages were decrypted in his book, “Unsolved!: The History and Mystery of the World’s Greatest Ciphers.” And this earlier article might help, too.”
And some deeper dives into Kryptos if you want to get a little… cryptic...
As always,
Stay ‘spicious
-Andy & Mark
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