Boston Solution

The first casque recovery since 2004, and only the third collectively to date, occurred in October of 2019 in Boston’s North End at Langone Park along the banks of the Charles River, when the careful examination of a construction site by Jason Krupat and Josh Gates yielded substantial fragments of the unmistakable ceramic container, and the eventual recovery of its contents.

By conventional measurements, this chapter of the long gestating saga had reached its conclusion. However, this theoretically momentous discovery was not without controversy, doubt, and conspiratorial speculation. Some skeptically minded individuals genuinely and unapologetically contend the Boston find was an elaborate ruse fiendishly orchestrated by multiple parties to profit on reinvigorated fascination for an otherwise inconsequential publication, and the associated Boston solution was subsequently deemed an obvious farce.

This seemingly untethered speculation stems from associated clue interpretations predicated predominantly upon superficial and circumstantial matches lacking definitive characteristics of trained communication. The woman in image 11 shares an unconfirmable likeness to the Christopher Columbus statue at Boston’s North End waterfront, officially downplayed but not explicitly denied by Secret artist John Jude Palencar. The “five steps” referenced in verse 3 are associated with the delineation of five wharfs starting at the Christopher Columbus Park. “Green tower of lights” is attributed to bridge supports illuminated by faintly green accent lights. The “coliseum” with “metal walls” is connected to an ice-skating rink.

With these interpretations come a plethora of questions signaling potential incompatibility. How are we expected to get from the Central Library near Copley Square to Christopher Columbus Park roughly two miles away exclusively employing puzzle communication? Had the Boston Public Works been using the same green lightbulbs for 37 years? Does a moderately sized ice-skating facility qualify as a “coliseum” by conventional definitions? If the last four lines of the verse just refer to Paul Revere’s midnight ride, how do we know we are applying these lines in the intended manner when Revere references are available abundantly in Boston? Why is it seemingly so labored to identify any clear visual match between image 11 and the proposed Jason Krupat interpretation?

Ironically, these logical and honest observations are leading some to unfounded accusations of impropriety. Alternatively, what if Mr. Krupat identified the correct resting place of the casque with incorrect methods for arriving there? Why could he not have endorsed the right conclusion for all the wrong reasons? It happens more than we think.

I began researching this case under the framework that the casque retrieval was authentic, yet we lacked proper understanding for the Boston solution that leads to it. While it did take a considerable amount of time, I am finally starting to understand Byron’s intension with the Boston case, which is not nearly as unclear or convoluted as we have been making it.

Many of these ideas are not original to me, although I wouldn’t know who to give credit to in most cases. Ultimately, any credit belongs to Byron. However, I have yet to see anyone configure a comprehensive Boston solution in this precise format.

If Thucydides is

North of Xenophon

Take five steps

In the area of his direction

These lines rightfully inspire immediate confusion. When applying the names Thucydides and Xenophon engraved on the east side of the Boston Central Library, Xenophon is the one found north. As others have previously identified, a letter by Horace Walpole includes speculation that Boston would one day be home to a historical scholar comparable to Thucydides, while New York would host a Xenophon. Boston is indeed found north of New York, which confirms Boston as the correct city for verse 3. In this regard, the directional orientation of those names on the library facade makes no difference, because this device is intended to primarily identify Boston. In other words, if we see these names in Boston, then we must take five steps in the area of “his” direction.

But who is the word “his” referring to? We are left to speculate. So let’s apply what we have to work with. The only direction the verse mentions is “north”, while Boston does have an “area” called the “North” End. Could the “area of his direction” be Boston’s North End? Given we already know where the casque was found, this interpretation seems likely.

Considering that the North End is more than a mile and a half away, how do we take “five steps” in the “area”?

A green tower of lights

In the middle section

On the north side of the library along Boylston St., we find an entrance to the “green line” east-bound subway route heading toward Boston’s North End. In relation to the series of arched windows on the library, our subway entrance is perfectly aligned with the “middle section”. The word “middle” is an equally fitting directional adjective given our presence at the Boston “Central” Library. If we literally go “in” an entrance found “in the middle section”, we can take five “steps” or stops toward Boston’s North End, accurately corresponding with the verse to the letter. A step can of course signify one measure in a process or physically traversable points, correlating with stops on a subway route just fine.

Directly across the street we find a large “tower” from the historic Old South Church. Since we find this tower along the green line subway route, we can consider it to be “green” by association. This interpretation holds further significance when considering the application of Old North Church later in the verse. The use of both Old North Church and Old South Church mirror’s the references to New York City and Boston regarding respective north-south orientation. If this interpretation holds true, then both churches are further connected by references to light in verse 3. While I can’t comment on its condition 43 years ago, there are modern day images of Old South Church at night that not only show a light source emanating from tower’s interior but includes a greenish hue. I find that to be a little circumstantial without a clear visual match, but that’s what we have so far for this Boston solution.

To connect our immigration focus, Old South Church was built in the Italian Gothic style.

I have seen it suggested elsewhere that “green tower of lights” was a light fixture at Langone Park years ago. If this were accurate there would appear to be great difficulty in objectively validating verse restructuring to accommodate that match.

Looking at the image, the light emitting box embossed with what looks to be a castle is of particular interest. To date, it has only been applied in extremely circumstantial ways. The castle depiction vaguely emulates a structure at Boston University but would seemingly serve little to no purpose beyond existing. Saunders Castle on Columbus Ave offers a far more compelling representation yet likewise fails to produce a relevant reason for existing. Such a vague match with numerous alternatives does not at face value serve as an effective area clue, so how are we meant to use it?

During my various Secret investigations, I have come to discover a common yet predictably controversial characteristic. It is not unusual to find a visual device with multiple, blended identities (JJP confirmed blending clues but did not expound on this) where misdirection and authentic connections are achieved simultaneously through a single device. In this regard, there are cases of visual misdirection that arguably offer a more compelling one for one match than the true intended interpretation of a particular device.

Integrating an easily misinterpreted facade with more subtle, inadvertently neglected characteristics into a single device can make for a more challenging puzzle. It’s important to recognize the delicate balance between protecting a puzzle’s answer and revealing it. Byron is trying to hide the answer, and tell us the answer, all at once.

It’s for these reasons I have come to the conclusion that the “castle” in image 11 for Byron’s true Boston solution…is really Old South Church. Let’s look at some details. First, it helps that we have already incorporated Old South Church as a result of verse instruction, reinforcing our contention with verse and image overlap. Secondly, the lid of the box has a peculiar slant which matches the old west bound transit entrance directly in front of Old South Church.

Thirdly, the castle depiction curiously includes what looks like a moon, while our Old South Church verse interpretation would require night-time viewing in order to see the “lights”. Fourthly, the box is emitting light while the tower would be emitting light likewise. Fifthly, the box emits several segmented beams of light appearing square or rectangular in nature and created by some obstruction within the box, while the primary “tower” of Old South Church has rectangular slits where light could theoretically escape. Sixthly, while personally considered highly circumstantial, one can take the vine design and the moon on the box to spell O.S.C for Old South Church.

Lastly, we can conduct a visual comparison of castle elements and produce continuity arguably no less compelling than the BU match. Highly circumstantial…sure, but no more so than pre-existing applications.

Of further interest is the potential symbolism of a fairy appearing to take flight away from the castle box. The advantage of flight is that it allows for far less obstructed travel over considerable distances at a respectable speed…just like a subway train. This means, that at the exact point we suspect subway travel based on verse instruction, the image alludes to our location at a subway terminal inferring “flight” toward our final destination…hmmmm.

Proceeding the Boston casque discovery, artist JJP revealed the word “Boston” spelled out backwards in image 11. However, this image device serves a greater function than what has been officially revealed for the Boston solution. The objects used to spell out Boston all correspond to specific locations that incorporate “Boston” into the official title. Combining Boston and globe gets us The Boston Globe news organization. Given that the letter “s” matches a design at the Kelleher Rose Garden, we arrive at the name Boston Garden, the historic “coliseum” later replaced by the TD Center.

The letter “T” matches signs for the Boston Transit Authority. The letter “o” made from a bubble that “pops” corresponds to the Boston Pops Orchestra. The geometric pattern used for a letter “n” matches the pathways we find at The Boston Commons. These locations play varying roles at varying intervals along our journey to Langone Park.

Two bubbles appearing in image 11 have been officially confirmed by JJP to represent the Boston “Pops”. Both bubbles are found beside other objects, suggesting an association. One bubble is found beside a falcon. A falcon is a bird that hatches from a shell, corresponding to the Hatch Band Shell along the Charles River, where the Boston Pops Orchestra periodically plays. If applying the bubbles as a geographic device, the second bubble matches the location of the Orpheum Theater: the original home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which the Boston Pops was created from. This second bubble is found beside a pair of triangles, which in turn matches the pathways at the nearby Boston Commons. Both bubbles are even sized appropriately when compared to the venues they represent. The Green Line runs beneath Tremont St. which borders Boston Commons.

If you’ll notice, we have one more device in the image capable of flight, which is the fairy, posing a potential association with the bubbles. When lining up the bubbles with the Pops Orchestra venues, the fairy falls roughly over 4 Garden Court, which is the previous home of Rose Kennedy. Rose Kennedy had dark hair, and the fairy has dark hair. The wing has a four-leaf clover, while Kennedy was a longtime fixture in the Irish community of Boston. The fairy is holding the jewel in a diamond shape position, while a diamond shaped window appears above the door at 4 Garden Court. The numbers 4 and 2 appear top to bottom on the woman’s wrist within close proximity to the fairy, mirroring 4 and 2 Garden Court appearing in the same orientation on the map. Additional significance is gathered later.

Taking the Green line five stops to the east (counting Copley Square), we arrive at the Government Center at the intersection of Court and Tremont. This is where interpreting the verse becomes more problematic. If taking the verse in order, the next lines are “Near those, Who pass the coliseum”, which fit much better later in the interpretation. But we can’t arbitrarily rearrange the verse, so what do we do?

Just like more than one thing can be true simultaneously, verse devices can serve multiple purposes, as evidenced by “10 x 13” in Chicago. Looking at what we have to work with, we are told to “Take five steps, In the area of his direction,…In the middle section”. Does this have to only mean five physical steps, or is it possible we are being directed to rearrange the verse?

A step can constitute as one measure in a set of directions. Looking at the verse as a whole, it can be broken up in three sections of six lines each, which just so happen to represent three distinct areas across the cityscape. While the final section is comprised of six lines, it only contains five steps as “Eighteenth day, Twelfth hour” collectively represent the single action of following the route of Paul Revere’s ride. So, what if we take the bottom section of five steps in the verse and move it to the “middle section” closer to the “area” of Thucydides? This action would seem consistent with verse instruction.

The image potentially offers an additional validation for our verse order choice in this Boston solution. The letter “T”, which represents the Transit Authority signs, is shown as a reflection on a table. Reflections offer a “reverse” image, while our verse section reversal begins the moment we exit the subway system. The next location we arrive at is the Boston Globe, while the globes and globe stand are reflected on a table on the other end of the image.

Of interesting note is the fact that the second two sections of verse lines end with lines 12 and 18 respectively, which match the numbers referencing Paul revere’s ride. This detail seems to reinforce our suspicion.

In truth, be free

Before we can progress further, this line must be addressed, which may seem problematic at first. Exiting the Government Center terminal places us within a block of the Freedom Trail, while the verse instructs us to “be free”. This seems to suggest a state of existence more than a particular action. Just before this, separated by a comma, are the words “In truth”. Commas in the verses typically indicate separate yet directly related concepts. Our current location places us on Court St., while “court” is a place where truth is determined. Court St intersects with the Freedom Trail after one block of eastbound travel. On Court St., we can “be free” on the Freedom Trail.

However, we have now rearranged the verse seemingly without official prompt, applying the final line of the section to the beginning of the section. As previously mentioned, more than an action, this line seems to identify a state of existence. If isolating this entire section of verse passages as we have, we can theoretically apply the state of “being free” to each device. As it happens, each interpretation within this section of the verse places us on the Freedom Trail, which means we are experiencing a state of “being free”, while we exit the Freedom Trail immediately upon beginning the final section of verse instruction. This would seemingly support our decision of out of order application.

The Freedom Trail represents the second of three pre-established pathways of varying natures applied along the verse instructed path to Langone Park. The reoccurrence of and reliance upon pre-established pathways in Boston reflects a theme of travel and navigation further supported by image 3 devices.

All the letters

Are here to see

In Boston, there are easily dozens of theoretical matches to these lines holding either historical or topical relevance, making it difficult to pinpoint a definitive answer. If we focus on a comprehensive puzzle interpretation rather than a flashy one-off match, the result is highly plausible.

Our current position at Court and Washington places us at the old “Newspaper Row”, and steps away from the original Boston Globe offices abandoned in 1958 after relocation to nearby Dorchester. It is common practice for newspaper editors to receive reader “letters”, while concentrating the city’s printed media outlets to one isolated stretch means all the “letters” are “here”. Our presence at the old Globe building is reinforced by the Boston Globe representation in the image. The current Globe location was not established until 2017.

Typically, how verse lines are separated hold some level of meaning, and in many cases indicate separate concepts or elements. However, “here to see” fails to hold any significant meaning on its own and seems to have exclusive relevance connected to the “letters”. Could this unorthodox and seemingly unnecessary separation indicate a secondary application for “letters”? One block east of our current position is Congress St., while the United States Congress is known for receiving thousands of constituent letters each year. In combination, this location really does provide “All the letters”.

From here we travel north on Congress to both follow the Freedom Trail and to finally enter Boston’s North End: a historically Italian neighborhood with many Italian inspired businesses consistent with the assigned immigration focus.

Eighteenth day

Twelfth hour

Lit by lamplight

These lines reference Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April the 18th, which constitutes our third trail to follow, and seems like a fitting follow-up to the previous lines referencing “letters” given Revere’s position as a message carrier prior to his infamous midnight journey. We are led past Revere’s home where he briefly stopped prior to crossing the Charles River near Langone Park. Continuing to follow the Freedom Trail, we pass within feet of 4 Garden Court where Rose Kennedy lived, providing yet another verification for our puzzle based decision making.

Along the same road that transitions into Garden Court a few yards later, we find a leaf-bearing vine like design curving into an “s” formation resembling the aforementioned image device. This poses an alternative method for associating the letter “s” and Boston with the word “garden”.

Continuing onward we travel through the Paul Revere Mall before arriving at the Old North Church where two lanterns were hung to signal British arrival by sea. The statue at the mall provides a visual representation of Revere’s ride occurring on the 18th at midnight in accordance with the verse, while the appearance of Old North Church in an accurate linear progression authenticates the verse further. We end our time on the Freedom Trail with our next verse interpretation, nearing the conclusion of the Boston solution. Leaving the Freedom Trail before beginning the next section of verse entries validates the previous contention that the line “In truth, be free” is applied to lines in the corresponding section only.

Near those

Who pass the coliseum

With metal walls

We arrive at the intersection of Commerical and Hull. We are within about 1400 feet as the bird flies of the old Boston Garden location. BG qualifies as a “coliseum”, is referenced in the image, is found along the Green Line, and we are “near” what previously was the Charlestown High Bridge which “passed” immediately beside Boston Garden. Everything fits accurately according to the verse.

Furthermore, “near those who pass”, emphasis on the word “pass”, can serve a dual purpose, referencing the JS Waterman Langone Chapel Funeral Home found less than 200 feet to the east. Is it ironic we are soon told to “face the water”? This proposed interpretation is not original to me.

Directly across the river from the funeral home is the USS Constitution, known as “Old Ironsides” resulting from a metal hull. “With metal walls” is typically interpreted as a characteristic of the “coliseum” despite being found in a completely separate line. We also have confirmation from JJP that the Constitution is referenced in the image, so associating it with “metal walls” is hardly a stretch. The ice-skating rink typically associated with the verse in an alternative Boston solution fails to qualify as a “coliseum” under a strict dictionary definition.

The condition of the coliseum being “with metal walls” can be alternatively explained as a proximity between the two structures along the same river. The USS Constitution is also found along the Freedom Trail and is immediately beside Paul Revere’s riverfront landing-site. This interpretation serves as a far more relevant inclusion from a historical standpoint, remaining consistent with narrative thematics of the puzzle.

However, this doesn’t mean that the ice skating facility is completely uninvolved. The image shows an odd series of lines connected together and what resemble a hockey stick and hockey puck. These visual devices correlate with relative accuracy to nearby streets and the ice skating facility itself, giving both geographic and contextual matches.

Face the water

Your back toward the stairs

Continuing on Commerical Ave, the first staircase we encounter is found at Copp’s Hill Terrace. We can absolutely face the water with our back to the stairs, putting us in line with the USS Constitution and the Paul Revere Landing Site. The two lanterns hung at Old North Church signified a water approach by the British, which corresponds with the decision to have the casque near the water and reference lights twice in the verse. The stairs we selected align with the western baseball diamond home plate at Langone Park nearly perfectly to the north.

Serving as our general casque location, Langone Park is named after a Massachusetts state senator whose father was an Italian immigrant. This fits perfectly with our immigration focus and Litany of the Jewels clue. The word “antique” could allude to the historical significance the Langone site has regarding Paul Revere’s ride.

Feel at home

This eludes to a casque location within close proximity to home plate of the Langone Park baseball diamond. There are several image devices that serve to reference a generic baseball connection i.e. home plate on the woman’s sleeve, the woman’s hair faintly emulating a baseball diamond, or the possible insinuation of a baseball with a round port hole and curved wall seams directly above.

Update 2/6/26: Fitting with the theme of “pathways” leading us to Langone, a baseball diamond is comprised of base paths.

The western most baseball diamond is directly across the river from Paul Revere’s landing site, and likely served as the approximate launching point despite remaining unmarked.

A precise casque location is debatable for this Boston solution. It’s possible the positioning between the jewel and home plate in the image was designed to mirror a physical location. Five steps could be applied for an additional purpose. It’s equally possible that “feel” indicates we are meant to physically remove home plate and dig beneath it, unless a related base structure prevents that.

I have also considered the possibility that “home” refers to the home team dugout along the first base side. I find it far more logistically feasible for the casque to have been buried beneath a plot of grass beside the playing field rather than damage or compromise the barren run paths, which would have made it difficult to conceal a fresh burial. If the jewel and home plate in image 11 are intended as geographic markers signifying a burial location, then the jewel’s location is consistent with this theory. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the image provides additional casque locator information we are currently unaware of and potentially unable to decipher without the original grounds in tact.

Update 1/15/2026- With the verse interpretation comprehensively resolved, we find a cohesive and appropriate theme in addition to the aforementioned trend of following pathways. In the spirit of being “free” as the verse directs, puzzle elements correlate to a series of intuitional freedoms identified in the first amendment of the US Constitution. Freedom of the press is represented by the Boston Globe. The freedom of religion is represented by Old North Church and Old South Church. The freedom of speech is represented by the Boston Central Library. The freedom of petition is represented by a reference to constituent letters to Congress. The freedom of assembly is represented by the Boston Garden which housed many political rallies and events. And as it happens, “metal walls” is a reference to “Old Ironsides”…otherwise known as the USS Constitution. Oh…collectively there are “five” freedoms while the verse tells us to take “five steps”.

Boston Solution Pros

-Makes reasonable sense of a Langone Park casque location

-Smoothly incorporates pre-confirmed elements

-Includes interaction and interconnectedness between verse and image elements

-Most words incorporated accurately

-Better explanation for “coliseum” and “metal walls” than the common Boston solution

-Indicates a cohesive theme of following specific paths or routes

-Includes wordplay as opposed to only one for one matches, consistent with other cases

-Clue interpretations serve discernable purposes beyond generically existing

-All decisions made or based on puzzle communication

-Rearranged verse order justified through puzzle communication

-Presence of alternative visual matches explained

Boston Solution Cons

-Several major visual elements left unused such as characteristics of the window or the flower

-Green tower interpretation does not include confirmable lighting reference

-The interpreted identity of castle box as Old South Church, while possessing many supportive characteristics, still possesses superficial and circumstantial qualities

-System for rearranging verse lines is mildly subjective

-Does not directly adapt a Fenway Park application which many assume should be included

-Fairy with jewel relative to the bubbles does not line up perfectly with 4 Garden Court.

-Beyond possessing dark hair and a four leaf clover imprint, the fairy’s claimed identity as Rose Kennedy is a little circumstantial