Final answer:
The ancient Greek tool used for encrypting messages by the Spartans is known as a Scytale, which is a cylindrical object that creates ciphertext when a parchment is wrapped around it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cylinder tool used by the Greeks, often attributed to the Spartans, for encrypting messages was called a Scytale. By wrapping a parchment around a cylinder of a certain diameter, messages could be written across the leather or parchment which would appear nonsensical unless re-wrapped around a cylinder of the same size. This method turned a standard text into ciphertext, which could then only be read by someone who knew the diameter needed to read it. The Scytale is believed to be one of the earliest forms of secret communication and has historical significance in the study of cryptography.