After cracking the Z340, I found it optimal to search for a comparable reasoning behind the use of the 18 letters of the Z408. I wanted to be able to show a consistent use of all the oddities and parts of the ciphers for one continual solve throughout, as if they were a compounding puzzle and that each one worked to solve the other.
So I took the repetition and rhythm of the 18 letters as s form of Shakespearean/Baconian encoding of a phrase that was sounded out. He was known to have used this type of shorthand and his rhythmic patterning of his words when he was found to have encoded ciphers in the works of Shakespear's plays, that were released after he was dead.
One book held a star map that was embedded in the word matrix. Petter Amundsen was instrumental in proving this very theory existed when he uncovered a star map using Bootes and the Cross in the path of a trail of clues to a place called Oak Island, home of the fabled "Money Pit". In the Z340 I had discovered a Star Map embedded in the use of dots in the puzzle, which formed those very astrological symbols of constellations Bootes, and I assumed that HER was short for HERCULES, being in that Quadrant according to the layout in the Z340, which was broken into these 4 sections by marks in the center of the text.
Looking at the Z408's 18 letter meaning, it appeared to actually describe instructions to look for these very clues in Shakespearean form.
It appeared to read: BEFORE I ATTEMPT THE PIT READ THE TEMPEST
An 18 letter hint that shows both there is a layer of a Star Map in the cipher, and that the number 18 is significant.
The Z340 is then separated into two blocks, with one consisting of letters only, and the other being the numbers/symbols. These two blocks are then laid out in rows of 18 characters in length, making two equal bodies of ciphertext, and leaving one letter out at the end in each as well.
The 18 Letters were used as a key to the next cipher. Later on he repeated this similar type of phrase with another Key in the Z13 .... identified by it's tone as compared to the previous one.
BEFORE I ATTEMPT THE PIT READ THE TEMPEST
BY THE WAY HAVE YOU SOLVED THE LAST CIPHER I SENT YOU ..... My name is ______ .
These are the keys and they hold a symbolic representation of the movement of letters, and the revealing of maps in these formats. The entire cipher of the Z340 was partly broken due to the use of these hints and guides. The post is here on WebSleuths under the Zodiac Killer forum label with graphics explaining how the Z340 and Z13 were solved. The FB pages are here as well for reference with videos and links.
Zodiac Ciphers Solved
Take a look for yourself, it all is fitting one trend and even later ties to the CIAs puzzle at Langley, which mimics the ciphers of the Zodiac and even maps the locations of the suspects out using similar techniques using the blueprint and landscapes of the building. They also use parts of the same Shakespearean puzzle incorporated into the cipher to accentuate the form of masking the true meaning. Kryptos and the Zodiac are from the same Agency and their operatives.
Cracked Kryptos