An Amazing Puzzle: The Enigma of Mazes and Labyrinths
The dream was so vivid that, on walking, the rector felt compelled to build a real-life version of the maze he had seen. The newly constructed maze was modeled on a set of religious carvings in the village church and the design was symbolic. The winding pathways represented the journey of life. The wrong turnings and culs-de-sac symbolized the sins that people commit before death, obstacles on the way to paradise and heaven.
An Amazing Puzzle: The Enigma of Mazes and Labyrinths
By Mr. Ghaz, September 18, 2009
An Amazing Puzzle: The Enigma of Mazes and Labyrinths
In 1950 Canon Harry Cheales, parish priest of Wyck Rissington, a small village in the south of England, had a curious dream. In it, he was looking out of window of the rectory while below him, in the garden, he could see people walking around a maze. A shadowy figure behind him was describing the scene.
The dream was so vivid that, on walking, the rector felt compelled to build a real-life version of the maze he had seen. The newly constructed maze was modeled on a set of religious carvings in the village church and the design was symbolic. The winding pathways represented the journey of life. The wrong turnings and culs-de-sac symbolized the sins that people commit before death, obstacles on the way to paradise and heaven.
Patterns and Puzzles
Throughout history mazes, or labyrinths, have been found all over the world, both as real constructions and as symbolic representations in art. There is even evidence that mazelike patterns were used by the ancients. They are found on Sumerian seals, Babylonian tablets, Etruscan wine jars, Roman mosaic pavements, on a pillar at Pompeii, even on the magnificent carved entrance stone to one of the oldest buildings in the world, the 5,00o-year-old Newgrange Tomb in Ireland.
But despite the frequency with which they have appeared, there is still remarkably little understanding of the real significance of mazes or why they were built. To some people they have always been places of amusement; to others, they are puzzles or mental teasers. And some people regard them as symbols with a hidden meaning.
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33 Comments
CHAN LEE PENG, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Well researched and amazing piece. Thanks.
Jenny Heart, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Perfectly written! I think they have hidden messages. The pictures are fantastic. Loved the article and pictures. Thanks for education us once again in a most enjoyable way.
Debra., posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Great article and well researched, MrGhaz!
Susan, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Ages ago, people were much more spiritually aware than people are now. Most buildings with a lot of work put into them were for religious reasons. Makes sense that mazes were part of that.
Excellent article.
Patrick Bernauw, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Well written & researched article on a fascinating theme!
Francois Hagnere, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Excellent as usual. Labyrinths and mazes are indeed highly symbolic. The labyrinth in Chartres cathedral is my favorite, several cathedrals in France have one.
Thank you and congratulations for this beautifully crafted article.
Best wishes,
François
Rini Sucahyo, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
wow!
Monica Sappleton, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Great research, and great article, MrGhaz!
Monica.
sandie, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
your pictures are amazing, wow, thanks for sharing.
Katien, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Well-written and with great photos. I’ve always though of mazes as purely for entertainment until now.
hollynoel001, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
great article and well researched great pictures also
Christine Ramsay, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
A great article. Very informative and well illustrated. I have learnt such a lot of the history of mazes. Well done.
Christine
Mystify, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
I am very much enjoying your articles Mr Ghaz! Always interesting and always something to learn.I did know of the greek, christian and british legends of the labyrinth but not the others! I once designed a labyrinth for a convent which was for contemplation while following and reflection upon reaching the center. Excellent work as always, a very enjoyable read!
Mika Lya, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
very interesting! u’ve done great researches 
CA Johnson, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
I enjoyed your articles and I thought the pictures that you used were an excellent touch. I have really learned something from your article.
papaleng, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
Well-researched one. Your pictures simply describe your post to the fullest.
Lostash, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
I love mazes! I must get myself to Hampton Court at some point! Great piece!
Humming Buzz, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
Great stuff!
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
Intriguing… I didn’t know there are lots of mazes and labyrinths, thanks for this info.
Ruby Hawk, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
I love mazes. Farmers here, cut out mazes through their corn fields on Halloween. it’s a treat for the kids out tricking. yours are amazing.
Poetic Enigma, posted this comment on Sep 19th, 2009
Great article, with a nice photographic touch…very well compose and researched, thank you for sharing!
Daisy Peasblossom, posted this comment on Sep 20th, 2009
Interesting assortment.
Kairos, posted this comment on Sep 20th, 2009
as always, very informative
surjan, posted this comment on Sep 21st, 2009
Very Nice calloction
Idazalee, posted this comment on Sep 21st, 2009
Another great article. loved the pictures..fab.and well-presented as usual.really amaze me..Thanks for sharing this wonderful stuff!!
Joshua Miguel, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2009
very beautiful. thanks for always posting interesting articles
DA Cournean, posted this comment on Oct 2nd, 2009
Awesome..
Bizen, posted this comment on Mar 3rd, 2010
Hi,
I am the photo owner’s below of “Minotaur and escaped the winding passageways”.
The link in photo is incorrect.
Can you change it? thanks
The article is very well.
Mr Ghaz, posted this comment on Mar 3rd, 2010
Hi, Bizen, Thanks. Fixed.
Yulia Lebedeva, posted this comment on Apr 2nd, 2010
good article, but i would have liked to have been contacted upon the use of my image! (the one with two people embracing).
best regards, Yulia
Mr Ghaz, posted this comment on Apr 2nd, 2010
Hi Yulia, Thanks for reply. ..okay, that will do in future..fyi, I’ve linked the photographs (Image Credit below the picture) )to the original picture which gives the photographer credit. I do think this fulfills creative commons guidelines. http://www.flickr.com/guidelines.gne
Yulia Lebedeva, posted this comment on Apr 3rd, 2010
oh yes yes it does. dont worry, but it’s nice to know just personally when the photos are used, after all, i would have had no knowledge of it being used had i not traced down, where some viewers come from to my flickr.
unown971, posted this comment on Sep 18th, 2009
Brilliantly researched, well done!