Appendix G: Exercises - Codes: The Guide to Secrecy from Ancient to Modern Times - page 561

1.14. Using the description of atbash given on page 23, decipher the following:

WZMRVO XIBKGZMZOBAVW RG .

( Hint: You may visualize the atbash methodology via the following cipher
table. )

Plain a b c d e f g h i j k l m

Cipher Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N

Plain n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Cipher M L K J I H G F E D C B A

1.15. Using the above table, decipher the following

GSV DRHV NVM XLFOW MLG .

1.16. Consider the Alberti disk position as illustrated in Figure 1.22 on page
48. Using this position, decipher DOLZYIB . Then assume that the disk
is rotated so that the z sits over the C , and decipher SSIB RGBZRNPV ,
keeping in mind that since there is no w on the disk, we use a double v to
denote it.

In Exercises 1.17-1.20, use the Trithemius tableau on page 51 to decrypt
each ciphertext.

1.17. MPPREQWPILPFWQ .

1.18. WFOYXZTWCPPMETTQI .
This is a quote from St. Francois De Sales (1567-1622), who was Bishop
of Geneva.

1.19. YPXFESTWCCSMXSXQEWMQEQFZCMGQGNLLOSDF .
This is a quote from Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) , who was prime minister
of India until her assassination.

1.20. LPQNMTSMEKCPNBWUC .
This is line 163 of “Lycidas” (1637) , written by the English poet John
Milton (1608-1674) .

In Exercises 1.21-1.24, use the Bellaso polyalphabetic cipher on page 53
employing the keyphrase quintessential to decipher each cryptogram.

1.21. HZURFFXKYUTCTTCZRFFSFXC .
This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) taken from “Advice
to Young Tradesmen” (1748) . Franklin was an American scientist, diplo-
mat, and publisher.