In the interest of presenting an alternative to widely accepted beliefs, I present some alternate possible meanings and uses of the word palimpsest which is one of the keywords used for the vigenere cipher of the first part of Kryptos.
A palimpsest is basically re-used writing materials.
- Perhaps we are being encouraged to recycle?
Even in architecture, it’s basically building on top of or with what as there originally.
- This would suggest to me that it is less something we are to do but more something we are to reverse
You could even say that it is a historical note on steganography
- Demaratus sends a message via beeswax tablet
- Histiaeus uses a tattoo on his slave’s head
Ultimately, most folks see it as a reason to overlay parts of Kryptos onto other parts of Kryptos. Again, if this is meant as a clue it would be an indication of something that has already been done. It would perhaps be better to search for underlying text or fragmented bits showing up where they don’t belong. Perhaps under that copper patina there’s a message hidden in the metal of Kryptos itself.
There are a lot of things palimpsest is not but I doubt it will ever stop being used for solution attempts that are widely different from its historical definitions and uses. Please use carefully.
Eh, I heard it could be known by the Morse code palimpsest plates out on the front
I heard that too but I disagree with it.
I bet most of us didn’t know what a palimpsest was before this so how the frig were we supposed to go and figure that that was the keyword huh? I think you had it wrong though kryptobuddy, you shoulda stuck with the whole “something we are to reverse”.
Hindsight is 20/20 but until it’s over, I won’t have any guarantee I’m right.