Why people walked through the mazes from ancient times, and what benefits they bring

When it comes to mazes, the naive layman imagines something mysterious and dark, dangerous and mysterious, believing that someone is building them powerful, and his goal is to hide something valuable, confuse and not let go. We immediately recall the labyrinth with the Minotaur or the film with David Bowie and his wards goblins. But the real labyrinth is completely different! It has only one move, and it is impossible to get lost.

Why are they needed? Why have people made them since time immemorial? The reasons are very curious: the mazes were built "for the soul," like parks, churches, magical attributes. The Scandinavians believed that the passage of the maze helps to get rid of the problem, gain good luck or protect yourself. For believers, the labyrinth symbolizes the complex and often “winding” path to God. The passage of the maze is a long walk in a limited space, a means of meditation and concentration, a way to concentrate and take a step towards enlightenment.

The most complicated railroad labyrinths were used long before the annals of history. The first images of the labyrinths are found in the form of cave paintings and petroglyphs. Depending on the form and type, historians can determine the approximate date of its creation.

One of the most famous labyrinths is found in the pyramids built in Hawara during the time of Pharaoh Amenemhet III. In ancient Greece, there was also a period of building labyrinths. In the Roman Empire there was a period when the labyrinth existed in the form of a square. By the 9th century, the labyrinths became round again, but their chain lengthened. The most famous labyrinth of the Middle Ages is painted on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France.

It is assumed that the passage of the maze was tantamount to a mini-pilgrimage, prayers were invited to crawl on his lap. He was compared with both the path of Christ and the journey of a person through life: no matter how the path is winding, you will always come to the center - your own death.

Nowadays, the passage of the maze is rather closer to meditation, but it cannot be said that "the effect is guaranteed." David Gallagher, executive director of The Labyrinth Society, a resource that has compiled a complete database of information about all the labyrinths in each country, believes that transcendental experiences are not for everyone, the most important thing in mystical affairs is mood.

Consider some of the most famous labyrinths left to us from the bygone cultures.

In Beijing (China), in the Imperial Gardens near the ruins of the Qing Dynasty and the palace of 1709, there is also a labyrinth. The entire garden and palace complex is called Yuanmingyuan, or "gardens of perfect clarity." It was conceived as a resting place for the emperors of China, but the meeting between the West and the East ended tragically: during the Second Opium War, the Western barbarians partially destroyed a unique artistic creation. Fortunately for us, the maze remained intact. It is rather complicated: there are dead ends and tricks in it.

In Scotland, too, there is a stone labyrinth near the dilapidated Dunour Castle, previously owned by the Kennedy clan. During a walk along it you can enjoy the sea and the view of the castle.

In South Africa, the city of Hogsback houses one of the largest mazes with a length of about 1.5 kilometers. It hides in the Amatola massif and is ideal for walking, because the area around Hogsback is notable for its beautiful fabulous nature. Locals believe that it was their nature that inspired the famous writer Tolkien to describe the Mirkwood.

In the labyrinth of the famous Damme monastery, the forest is interspersed with stones. A solitary position creates a special state of peace and tranquility.

Around the world there are a huge number of mazes. In Russia, for example, the labyrinth on the Solovetsky Islands is known. They are all different - stone and park, created for a different purpose - religious and entertaining, but they all reflect a special period in the development of mankind, which we would be nice to know better.