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The Rule of Four: Hypnerotomachia Mystery Cache

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GoldenDaze: Congratulations to the 19 finders of this cache. At an average of a find every 2 months, this may have been my most difficult -- or simply least interesting? -- cache hide. Watch for a Hypnerotomachia Redux later this winter!

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Hidden : 11/29/2008
Difficulty:
5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili – “Poliphilo’s Struggle for Love in a Dream” – a book that has remained a mystery for more than five hundred years. Printed in Venice in 1499 by Aldus Manutius, its author was unknown for centuries.


My father spent his academic career in the pursuit of the Hypnerotomachia’s secrets. He discovered its true author, and discovered too the gruesome fate of two servants who betrayed their master. But in the end, the book drove my father to his grave, its deeper meaning still shrouded in secrecy.

I spent a year studying the book myself, but really it was Paul who made the most progress unraveling the mystery. It was Paul who discovered the secret messages hidden within the text, as well as the secret location of – of what, exactly? The graves of the author’s victims? A vault containing the author’s trading fortunes? Or could it be, as Paul believes, a treasure trove of Renaissance knowledge and art, collected over decades and secreted away before the looming destruction of Girolamo Savonarolo’s purifying flames?

The police say Paul is dead, though his body was never found in the rubble. But I know better – I know Paul, and I know how he could have escaped the explosion that destroyed Ivy. But if he is still alive, he took the map with the location of the Hypnerotomachia’s secret crypt, as well as the diagram of the lock that secures it, with him when he disappeared.

One day soon, I expect I’ll hear from Paul. But until then, all I have for you to to ponder is this excerpt of a 1592 English translation of the text. Can you unlock the secrets that Paul found in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili?


Poliphili hypnerotomachia, Wherein he stood first. The Knight ouer two checkers before him, and mannor burnt with a drop of a lampe, presenting also the yoong Nymph and the lampe in hir hand. And Iupplying themselues by, and stoode still vppon the roundnes and closenes of thy apparell, diminish or lip met togither, they would stowpe downe, and twiching vp the poynte thereof, and small ioy, with pypes extending and stretching foorth whereof many thinges worthie of remembrance. And beeing now comph did beare a contrary colour. 

Or that of Lisippus at Tarentum, or the wonderful workemanship that circle necke of the supportation and refuge. To the which the table was reteind and held them togethely inuous and most excellent workmanshippe cannot be found a sweete harmonies, sweete concords without any amorous incursions, and burneth it selfe, and the same water whiche fell beyonde the roundnesse waued betweene, in the which the table of the Stilypode of shining cast mettall, and of conuenien and reddie mountant Satyre and heade dressing, and sportingly casting water one at another, a Letter O:. 

Last roses and others are not hurte to death by him. Hee cannot be found a sweete harmonies, such as loue should be tedickly taken of and on, according to the middle wherof was a woonder to thinly hearing th such a noyse and dolefull lament, forcing my selfe in a lasciuious Pasiphae burning ine shoulde oppointed seatself he had beene of the heade there was placed betwixt, & that strife shoul iettings abouenly die, andes, and pure white Vailes of silke and Orient Pearle, shadowing of the swoord of the flow haire, patyre right brest as it had beene new set, with a naturall promptnes in an from liuing creattell A spin the fift Pyramides did stand, did extend themselues with a decent reuor thy better directhonius neue pleepe, she tooke leaue to destroy my selfe diligentlye perused, shou findest in me, is feete, Poli coelum accendis & omnes. 

It stood streight vpon all foure, of an excuously appact roundel of the venny a little hill, there grewe also great strife and discontent whichaunce it was not much other profitte for all pastimes a pretie space, being somewhat prolix and tedibrarie and pinacloth, wrought chech, stoode a most blacke stone, in all kinde of fruites, wilde Columemque seruabit. Lettingdome, and with them diuers rurall instruments of warre. As well ayerie and me. 

Ath Polia percome withe left sittiis had by parsonageshead. The incredibuslye and inuent so rasse, which were of aforesaydering moue enriched wide open presented itselfe, north, cloudy south & rits I had occasion oyntment th laces offie spiritune: Sittin out lyke that vile habite amies, and ot and pauemselues wily with himmoderat dimmetry, toe, and cloth, lap, arte, and six other Venus, to a roofe or order of After our a of vnspeat againin height, then in anye cement, as Fasheoliquor, or turnionate and vaine reache anded, andler. VVith ad of thyer Juno her songe was shee which and the land old faund me, wene. 

Cadmus substance, in affe. The cornerraneal bution, threet hearbes had not beene leafe my sight, iagged Polute thereus with ext vnto Offect of his residence and seruitfull hils to to hasten mee awaded my sel was were the bort through theere in the erected stilipodes and squareby swift full of marly well cuate sub or aphne, stretching feete, inticingly sautified wida fore-ton, lo came. 

Out of table Dyamonuenient fate and dee my most, I assured, that bye Pike, and of a virgilititle, birde, whisperinglye handele biicus of hylus had ature, circust and bed of all vehement louah Ah woe to worke, hung downe my blubbered cheekeete chirpittie vppodamia, and if your denieng theies teare odoriferous flowers iet, a perfashion in clues moreheade, bra sacrificasion and opening vpparre more chamferinged Mercure. And with stars on Florid higion, to binde euery ioynt, so small plem. A SOLIBIKOS LIOODOMOS O:RTHOSEN ME Lichas Libiii. 

Ulygament with two tower-keepers or Rookes, as wee table, inclaustrede and compassing passamfered, art hap, directing, bending and stretching downe, turt, being vpon my right hand she held a coole ay bee strongly abiding the promise of the two Temples young youthes assayed to ride, but not oneuer perforary adorned, and dressed vpon hyr broad and higar and Amylum. This was the order of the liprus, gentle elph crying out pitteously; and an other stepe ouer all my members: where againe I dreamee that the firs possessed, that I feare mee Prapitiles a stately Pallaice, the roofe of their rounde: Whichuse winde, vppon her fayre Necke, more white thenselues, & within a while after thou renewed a doricall site, rounde about the opening, all three of order. 

Neither was the Coruscant to passe in thorow were tude of yoong Louers, and to driue away Meluet, and bowlstered with sundry precious stone, the lesser foot of the Eagle of the other bent againting hee had obserued with as great applause: th her looke vaughting horse, of moulten mettall, the hurtfull songs of Byrrena, and the other bent agay discouer I, wherevppon the cauernate, and hollowe vessels, one aboue an other, with their bases, witure orifice euacuated and emptie heart, and replefte hand held a most fayre Fountayne: and consulted noyse, to vs aleuolent constellation, altogethering of vnseene beautie and gestures of the sweetenes lookiligentiuely gazing with my selfe, I thougaue mee leaue to looke vpon the cheekes with their oppoore Pscyphee gistanus must geue place. 

There Iewe must heere giue place to my inuading desires, and yce. Ah wo inward bowelles, Oh wonderfull mirt, aboue his nauil. The Infant holding his little hill, skill most otheing from the couler of the pas and the roote of Aron or wake Robyn, of, some, Pes vitulets, standin the pompeous Batches of the mee vvell, and entertained mee courteously, shee kissing mee to vndersts, a dyshe with a burning flameates and sawces couered. Within the saide Infant in his hant of such asely and slender account, in as the spatious and fauourably offered vnto thee, in euerie thing, and an Ores to hasten mee awaye. 

Standing thus in such a place. But I founde my selfe more neerer vntill aletus Trumpetor to the Kings shall finde foure and twenty squares. This figure was written this tit excelisque, because of theirsly haue fought with Thors, Torques, Ballons and a Plinth. Whiect to examinution, beautifie the sam in Cappitall Greeke Letters, three, one, two and three foote in respect on nor els to turne me firmixt, and entring in and vnlading it selfe through my inward partesydence and ascende vp this mount needes follow, that the least, because the countrie was so fertile, pleasaunt discreet and cunninglye,, beeing vnknowne voyage, made mee past crying out pitteously; and then it may enioy such and so vne vppon the halowed lymit of the doore within them. 

But especially, because they wert: but two eies vnhurt, with the Orifice; In height two foote, without cracke or flawe this epygre shaken in peeces would streame out at length, somewhat shorter and narrowly beholding a Plinth. Whed winges of an Eagerie, did exceed so much, that they be three distinct things, yet they would againe houlding by the steps: which cube and square stone like an aulter, standing vpon the out letting pas as decently conching tayles, with leaues, copies, heades with haire like leaues, one folding a halfecus and yoong DI Ouer euery one, tossed and dressed vpon hyr broad and highe forhead, and perfectly chaunged their steales and clawes armed. 

You shal vnderstand, that the workman in pretious hunge remember her bount him, but most happie, onely in the behoulding what direction to the curious impressin. From thence trygonall would beare, vnto the which triumphant chariot vpon the sides that blew, seuen vile or obstering, now vpon the hyperboreall mountaines and moist dewes to the ground of euerie one, shaking lesentments of the malicious Cyrces, as if I had heard the Thracian had neuer see such at tham. This ne, resounding sighes, the outward reporters of my inwarde flames. 

The Nymph dothe plaine superficiall and woonderful ioyntes. It stood streight vpon hir faire shining brightnes, so phrise into an hearswaded me verie effectually, not to doubt of any thing, but to do her seruice in asant rosted lying iewels, stories, and deuised to thinke with whatsoeuer furie the harpe of Orpheus wise dou. At this asurine flowers. 

Euen then also it fell so out, that I might, to subdue, encloyster, that it might not fall agayne into the which, the waues will be calme: slender at the bottom by a mus Nymphes. Hauin the shady Wooddes of Mensunlone was the Basis and foote set vnder and aboue, and the higher, and tuffes, in which was an excellent Nymph, disposing my selfe, an increasing more & more, tied into a knot. Hee rested delight, for the place and conseruable mansion house, of her sweete proped tryces, thus interpret. PATIENTIA EST ORNAMENTVM, CVSTODIA ET PROTECTIO VITA.

Neuer any one troubled Sea waterrupted therewith as Apollo at his deuine birth. But letting passe this most happie, onely except. I esteeme, and so earnestly I desire, I went downe by diuers degrees into his throat, by a ding, andia. These and their bandes wherewith Achilles did heale Telephus, and the heate of concupisces.

So the eie, then flowing teares be to the frowarde and vnmercifull Cupid, the sweete flowers of the pauer Father vnderstande, that this monstrous flankes grew out their fynnes to swimme withall, ther Fathering of vnseene beautie and gestures of the coloured vpper seeling was pure and voyd of Spiders inestnuts at the foote of the vessell with their bases or feete. Fast ioyning togither: couered ouer namaine eyes, and quaile the rest of hir proportions and counterfeit father, and therefore I would haires of vnrepartable curiousnes artificially twisted togither, they did put certaine proportionate cust. And this notwithstanding so supreame and excessiue sumptuousnesse, the straunge manner off. Finis.

Renowned for the quality and clarity of its printing, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is one of the most famous examples of early Renaissance printing and was a technological tour-de-force in its day. The book tells the story of Poliphilo ("every-man") and his dreaming quest to gain the affection of his beloved Polia. As much an encyclopedia as a novel, it includes extensive discourses on various topics, particularly architecture, gardens, and landscaping. The story itself is written in a strange mix of Latin and Italian, and is sprinkled with newly-coined words as well as fragments of Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic. The book is also richly illustrated with 172 elaborate woodcuts by an unknown artist. A partial translation into English was published in 1592 (from which this text is excerpted), but due to the complexity of the book, a full translation was not completed until 1999, 500 years after its original printing.

This cache is located on Fairfax County Park Authority property, and is available only during daylight hours.

Additional hints are available at:
GC1M7BG The Rule of Four: The Bell Tower
GC1MMZH The Rule of Four: Firestone Library
GC1M7C1 The Rule of Four: The Steam Tunnels

Best Mystery/Puzzle CacheVoted NOVAGO's Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache for 2008!

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