Basement Whatever

Johannes Trithemius was a Benedictine monk and arguably the founder of modern cryptography. Cryptography is a way to hide information, and Trithemius wrote a book about it — but he encoded this book as a false book about witchcraft.

The false book (not the real, hidden one) got him dismissed from his job and disgraced. Why hide such useful information in such a self-damaging manner? Here”s one theory:

If Trithemius’ intention was to avoid careful scrutiny of his manuscript, then his decision to frame it as a manual on spirit magic could not have been more inspired. Indeed, the prospect of wading through a lengthy Latin tome on necromancy was surely just as unappealing in the 1500s as it is today….how unreasonable is it to suppose that similar occult texts…might likewise be an elaborate ruse?

Is that why he chose to hide his completely-acceptable book as something that would get him in serious trouble? The book has three volumes; the last one is still not decoded.