What is "scytale"

n. A cylinder with a strip of parchment wound around it on which a message is written, used for cryptography in ancient times.

In cryptography, a scytale (, rhymes approximately with Italy; also transliterated skytale, Greek σκυτάλη "baton") is a tool used to perform a transposition cipher, consisting of a cylinder with a strip of parchment wound around it on which is written a message. The ancient Greeks, and the Spartans in particular, are said to have used this cipher to communicate during military campaigns.

The recipient uses a rod of the same diameter on which the parchment is wrapped to read the message. It has the advantage of being fast and not prone to mistakes—a necessary property when on the battlefield. It can, however, be easily broken. Since the strip of parchment hints strongly at the method, the ciphertext would have to be transferred to something less suggestive, somewhat reducing the advantage noted.

Scytale is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. In the novel Dune Messiah (1969), Scytale is a Tleilaxu Face Dancer who participates in the conspiracy to topple the rule of Paul Atreides. He later returns as a ghola and Tleilaxu Master in Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985). Finally, Scytale's story continues in Hunters of Dune (2006) and Sandworms of Dune (2007), Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's sequel novels that complete Frank Herbert's original series.

The character is portrayed by Martin McDougall in the 2003 miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.

Scytale may refer to:

• Scytale, an encryption tool used to perform a transposition cipher.
• Scytale (Dune), a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.
• A taxonomic synonym for Agkistrodon, a genus of venomous pitvipers found in North America from the United States as far south as northern Costa Rica.