The Curious History of Mazes

Book excerpt: Thread your way through this history of mazes from the ancient world to today and solve over one hundred mazes along the way. From prehistoric times, mazes and labyrinths worldwide have served as different symbolic, ritualistic, and practical purposes. Taken as a powerful metaphor for life’s journey, they can be used as tools for meditation and learning at any level, even when completed for recreation. Maze images can be enjoyed as motifs themselves, but also in their material forms—a meditation, puzzle, dance, walk, ritual, pilgrimage, or simply a day out. Drawing upon a wealth of historical and classical literature; accounts written by explorers, archaeologists, and historians; and the output of modern and contemporary world-renowned experts and enthusiasts, social historian Dr. Julie Bounford explores the evolution of mazes through time and across continents, presenting their history in a fun and engaging format while challenging readers to solve over one hundred mazes—many created exclusively for this book by illustrator and artist Trevor Bounford. Learn about: The earliest recorded examples, legends, and mazes in the ancient world Mazes used as sacred rituals and symbols that take us beyond the natural world Turf, stone, hedge, and garden mazes, and sites of communal rustic revels The modern revival, with mazes taken to forms never previously imagined Explore how mazes can improve your mental dexterity and create mindfulness, and use the gazetteer to locate historical, replica, and interesting mazes that exist around the world today.