From the Riddles of Ancient Egypt to Cryptography in the Renaissance — 3500 Years in the Making - Codes: The Guide to Secrecy from Ancient to Modern Times - page 34

graphic technique for that time. When the message was received, only Leonidas'
wife, and Clemenes' daughter, Gorgo , discovered it. She told the others to scrape
off the wax to reveal the message on the wood underneath, and so the Greeks
were warned. The message turned out to be a death knell for Leonidas. He led
troops to defend the pass at Thermopylae where he died.
Figure 1.19: Prince of Knossos.
The details of the above battle are worth the telling for their historic impor-
tance. The battle took place in August of 480BC, and the narrow pass (only