A Scytale is an ancient cryptographic tool used for encoding messages. It consists of a cylindrical object around which a strip of parchment or leather is wrapped. The sender writes a message along the length of the strip, and when unwrapped, the letters appear scrambled. Only someone with a cylinder of the same diameter can read the message by wrapping the strip around it again. This method of encryption dates back to ancient Greece and was notably used by the Spartans for military communication. The simplicity of the Scytale made it effective for secure messaging, although it could be easily broken if the enemy discovered the method.