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A Tale of Two Caesars Mystery Cache

Hidden : 7/15/2009
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Cache IS NOT at posted location. This is a single stage cache with a multi-layered puzzle leading to a small HIPS container. Street parking is available at the cache location.

Did you ever wonder why the months in the second half of the year appear to be misaligned with their names? For example, Septemeber is from the Latin word sept for "seven", and it was originally the seventh month of the year. October comes from the Latin oct for "eight", and it was the eighth month of the year. November is from the Latin novem for "nine", and it was the ninth month of the year. December is from the Latin decem for "ten", and it was originally the tenth month of the year.

Wikipedia says that September "was the seventh month of the year, before July and August were added by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar."

But another entry in Wikipedia says that the month of July was originally named "Quintilis" in Latin (meaning fifth) and that this month was renamed for Julius Ceasar. Similarly, August was originally named "Sextilis" in Latin (meaning sixth) and then renamed for Ceasar Augustus.

The shift in the months was not from adding July and August, but instead comes from placing January and February at the beginning of the calendar after it was already in use. This is because in the original Roman calendar, Winter did not have months. March was originally the first month, and January became the new first month because that was when people chose the new Roman leaders. February came in along with January, and the Winter months became the beginning of the year. July and August got the benefit of having names that were not linked to the older calendar before the winter months of January and February were moved to the top of the box.

The text below will give you the fourteen digits for the cache location, in standard minute decimal format. The puzzle is designed so that you will have some confirmation at each stage that you are on the right track. Note: The puzzle text has been formatted to fit below this description, so disregard the breaks between the lines. The background images are not a part of the puzzle either.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GNPFF+BXQ+QRMOTGGGTY++IWYVOI+
UH+STJ+URKDNIGXEUITIEMX+UQTU+
ISWYUNESEQXIKLXTIE:ST+FGU+
VIIYK:XAH+UJXIX++FRIREV:TXB+
IOHSITRWV+QIWSPYGY+ETCY+
W+CR+Q+C:PS+QIGWWIMYOQ+
RSIHHIW+HX

Additional Hints (No hints available.)