Let's Learn Some Secret Codes 'PigPen Cipher'

What is PigPen Cipher?

The pigpen cipher is a specific type of written code that uses a variety of symbols made from spatial constructs to represent letters of an alphabet, rather than replacing one alphabetic letter with another, versus traditional ciphers.

Pigpen is a widely used cipher. Because it doesn’t need any specialist equipment to code or decode, it has been used by many people to hide the meaning of the notes they’ve left in their diaries or other documentation. Some of the more interesting uses of the cipher are:

History of PigPen Cipher

The cipher is centuries old, and therefore there are several variations of the pigpen cipher. The exact origins are unknown, but starting in the 18th century, it was frequently used by the Freemasons, you might sometimes hear it referred to as the Freemasons cipher, or masonic cipher.

How it is works?

Each letter of the alphabet is substituted with a simple geometric picture symbol. Symbols are created using grids and crosses so that each letter is represented by fragments of a grid or cross with or without a dot. The name "pigpen" refers to this grid pattern.

How to write it?

The image shown below is the cipher code. Check the following decoder before attempting to write a coded message:

The letters are distributed over two tic-tac-toe grids and two crosses. One grid and one cross also contain dots in each space.

Now, practice writing letters individually. Each letter is surrounded by 2 or more lines of the grid and may include a dot.

For example, "E" is written as a box, "N" is written as a box with a dot inside. "W" is written as a "V" with a dot at the inside low point.

To encode a message to Pigpen, find the letter you wish to encrypt replaced by the lines and dots given by the position it sits on the table. For Example

All PigPen Symbols In A Box

Now try to decode the below code.

GreyTrack