✨ Today's Enigma: The Helmet of Hermes
Think you can solve it? Embark on an exciting adventure with renowned archaeologists Bill Brightfield and his partner Tobias Turpin as they find themselves in a tantalizing chase to recover the lost Helmet of Hermes.
Chronogram
July 18, 2023
An interactive newsletter for fans of ancient history
Chronogram is an interactive newsletter where history fans become treasure hunters and ancient art collectors. Every week, there’s a new mystery to solve. Solve archeological mysteries and collect ancient artifacts.
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The Helmet of Hermes
Scroll to the very bottom to cast your answer!
Chapter 1: The Challenge
In the cozy yet cluttered office of Unearth Inc., Bill Brightfield haphazardly sifts through a pile of dusty scrolls, his loud laughter filling the room as he talks on the phone.
"Alright, alright," Bill chuckles, scribbling something onto a scrap of paper. "We'll take a look at it. Can't promise we'll find it, but we sure as hell can try."
Across the room, Tobias Turpin sighs, running a hand through his hair as he watches Bill, his eyes filled with exasperation and amusement.
"Bill," Tobias starts once Bill hangs up the phone, "we don't even know if this Helmet of Hermes exists. And we can't just take every case across our desk, especially ones based on legends."
"But Toby, that's where the fun is!" Bill replies, leaning back in his chair with a wide grin. "Can you imagine if we find it? It'd be the archaeological discovery of the century!"
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Bill opens the package their new client has sent over. Inside is a carefully preserved journal. "Lykos," Bill reads aloud, the name etched on the cover.
They carefully open the journal, revealing meticulously inked entries in ancient Greek. But it's not the text that catches their attention. It's the coded riddles that Lykos left, pointing to the potential location of the legendary Helmet of Hermes.
Ever the methodical partner, Tobias begins noting everything, ensuring they don't miss anything. Despite their differences, they work harmoniously, complimenting each other's work style.
"Alright, Toby," Bill exclaims, grinning at his partner. "Looks like we've got an ancient treasure hunt on our hands.".
Chapter 2: Echoes from the Past
The ancient ruins of Delphi stand stoic in the early morning sun, their timeless architecture a tribute to a long-lost civilization.
Bill, the unorthodox but brilliant archaeologist, breaks the silence, his thick southern accent reverberating through the quiet ruins. "Toby, reckon it's about time I filled you in on the whole Lykos saga," he announces, a gleam in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Bill begins the tale, "Lykos, see, was an ordinary sailor, born and bred in Greece. He was part of the official crew chosen to transport the Helmet of Hermes back to Athens. It was a task of such great honor that even Zeus looked upon them favorably."
As Bill narrates, Tobias dutifully notes down each detail, a hint of fascination evident on his face.
"But fate, as it often does, threw a wrench in their plans. A pirate ship ambushed them on their journey across the Mediterranean. Brutal and swift, they left no survivors, or so it was believed," Bill continues, his voice taking on a somber tone.
"But one man lived to tell the tale, a lowly deckhand named Lykos," Bill reveals, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the story. "He returned to Athens, recounting tales of a bloody battle and a pirate ship disappearing over the horizon with the sacred helmet."
Bill nods, a slow grin spreading on his face. "The story of the pirates was a cover-up. Lykos himself stole the Helmet of Hermes. In this journal, his confession is our ticket to find it."
"But why leave a confession?" Tobias wonders aloud, a slight frown knitting his brows.
"Ah, Toby, that's where it gets interesting. It seems like Lykos enjoyed a good game, a mystery," Bill chuckles. "He wanted the helmet found, but not without a chase. So, he left behind a trail of riddles leading to it, turning his confession into a cryptic treasure map."
Tobias wonders aloud, "So, the riddle from his journal brought us here?"
"Indeed," Bill confirms, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Our first clue is right here in Delphi."
As Bill reads the matching riddle etched into the stone of the Temple of Apollo, they feel the task's weight before them. They are about to delve into a mystery centuries in the making, and the thrill of it fills them with invigorating energy.
With the journal as their guide and the riddles as their compass, they are ready to unearth the secrets that Lykos hid so well.
Chapter 3: The Labyrinth of Knossos
The early afternoon sun beats down on the city of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Bill and Tobias find themselves standing at the entrance of the labyrinth of Knossos, a sprawling palace complex known for its ties to the myth of the Minotaur.
Bill’s finger traces the faded lines of the third riddle. "'Beneath the bull’s gaze, and where the king’s shadow lies, the path shall unfold,'" he reads aloud, his Oklahoma accent drawing curious glances from other tourists.
Tobias is quick to join in deciphering the riddle. "The bull is central to Minoan mythology, and King Minos was the ruler here," he suggests, squinting at the sprawling ruins. "Perhaps the 'king's shadow' indicates a place where Minos's influence is prominent."
Bill pauses before a mural of a leaping bull, an iconic symbol of Minoan culture. His finger taps against a small detail in the painting – a tiny inscription, almost invisible to the untrained eye. He turns to Tobias, triumph evident in his gaze. "'Where the king's shadow lies,'" he repeats, pointing at the sun casting a shadow of the mural across the palace ground. "Lykos sure had a flair for the dramatic."
Tobias nods, echoing Bill's sentiments. "He turned his crime into a puzzle, and now we're playing his game."
"Right, but the game's far from over," Bill warns, his eyes straying back to the journal. "Our next clue lies in Athens, in the heart of Greece."
Little do they know, the most intriguing parts of Lykos's game are yet to come.
Chapter 4: Shadows in Athens
The city of Athens, a modern metropolis intertwined with ancient history, greets Bill and Tobias as their flight lands.
Bill reads out the next riddle from Lykos's journal, "' Where Athena’s gift and Poseidon’s curse meet, the following key waits.'" His southern accent blends strangely with the old-world charm of their surroundings.
Bill grins at his partner. "Smart thinking, Toby. So, we're looking for a place where an olive tree and a saltwater spring stand together."
Their journey takes them to the Acropolis, the ancient citadel overlooking the city of Athens. Standing tall amidst the ruins is the olive tree of Athena, located near a saltwater well - said to be Poseidon's gift.
A ray of sunlight falls on a seemingly insignificant point on the well, revealing another hidden inscription.
Bill looks thoughtful as he hears the words, tapping the journal against his palm. "A storm's heart," he muses aloud, his eyes twinkling with a sense of adventure. "That's gotta reference Poseidon, God of the Sea."
Tobias nods, flipping through his notes. "The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, perhaps?"
Bill gives a hearty chuckle, clapping Tobias on the back. "I reckon we'll find our next clue there, Toby. Time to take a little road trip to the edge of Attica."
The journey has turned more exciting with every riddle solved. As they head to Cape Sounion, they can't help but marvel at the incredible adventure they've been drawn into, a mystery centuries in the making.
Chapter 5: Cape of Storms
The drive to Cape Sounion is scenic, the road hugging the Saronic Gulf as they head south from Athens. Bill and Tobias make their way through the bustling city, the ancient ruins, and finally, the serene landscape of Attica.
Arriving at Cape Sounion, they are greeted by the magnificent Temple of Poseidon, standing tall at the edge of a cliff, battered by centuries of wind and waves. The setting sun paints the sky with hues of orange and red, creating a stunning backdrop for the ancient monument.
Bill pulls out Lykos's journal again, flipping to a sketched map at the back. His eyes flicker with recognition as he matches the rough sketch to their surroundings.
Tobias takes the journal, comparing the diagram to the layout of the temple ruins. He points out, "Look here, Bill. The positions of these pillars match those in Lykos's drawing. And this," he indicates a peculiar mark on the journal's sketch, "might be what we're looking for."
They approach the pillar in question. Its weathered surface is etched with many ancient inscriptions, but one stands out - a carving of a storm. They find the next part of Lykos's riddle in its heart: "Beneath the ancient protector of Pylos lies the final piece."
Their spirits lifted, and the pair left Cape Sounion, bound for Pylos. With each passing day, each deciphered riddle, they're getting closer to the lost Helmet of Hermes, drawing the veil away from a mystery centuries in the making. Four locations linger in their minds as potential resting places for the artifact.
Each one is linked to a clue, a hint left by Lykos. The final stage of their quest is upon them. But where does the path lead?
Pick one, and remember that you can submit your response by Thursday at 4:59 pm U.S. Pacific Time. The reveal of this mystery will be published shortly after the response cutoff.
The reveal to The Helmet of Hermes will be published this Friday! Those who answer correctly will be able to collect an extra reward.
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