Daily Cryptogram, Crossword & GamesPlus History, Phrase Origins, and Stories Worth Reading

A brief history of cryptograms. Cryptic code writing can be traced back to Sparta in about 600 BC, used to send military strategy and secrets. It was commonly used for military purposes throughout the years and still until this day. Then around 900 AD monks started using them for entertainment purposes. Edgar Allan Poe was fascinated with them and challenged readers to send him ciphers. The specific English term "cryptogram" was coined around 1849 from Greek roots meaning "hidden word."

The Enigma machine was invented by German engineer Arthur Scherbius in 1918 and was used extensively by Nazi Germany during World War II to encrypt military communications. Its complex system of rotors and plugboards made it seemingly unbreakable, until Allied codebreakers at Bletchley Park, led by mathematician Alan Turing, cracked its code — a breakthrough widely credited with shortening the war. For the longest time I thought the Enigma is where cryptograms originated. An historical biographical drama called The Imitation Game (2014) is about Alan Turing and his team breaking the Enigma code. Oscar winning movie and worthwhile to see. Highly recommended!