Uncovering the Ancient Mystery: The Discovered Labyrinth of Egypt's Past
Heyy there! Egypt, man, it's like the treasure trove of mysteries, ain't it? And even though we've scratched the surface a bit, unearthed some of history's greatest puzzles, there's still a whole lot to dig deeper into, especially beneath the golden sands of Egypt. The land of pharaohs has no shortage of stories, from secret cities to imposing monuments, and elusive labyrinths. Recently, we celebrated Egypt's underwater city, and we've been yammering about pyramids as well. But Egypt is way more than just that, my friend. The whole country's like an ancient encyclopedia, and each discovery and archaeological site is another page that helps us decode history.
The Misplaced Maze
Ever imagined there was a labyrinth in ancient Egypt, hidden away from sight, buried deep beneath the earth? It's a structure so grand that it even overshadows the mightiest pyramids erected in Egypt. Now, that's a big claim, and I bet you're thinking I'm pulling your leg. But finding evidence for it ain't rocket science. Ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about its existence in the 5th century BC ('Histories,' Book, II, 148). He described it as a massive temple with more than 3,000 rooms, covered in intricate paintings and hieroglyphics. It was a structure that outshone everything else, even the pyramids. But it wasn't just Herodotus who sang its praises. Many writers in antiquity penned down detailed accounts of this mind-blowing labyrinth in Egypt.
The Ancient Ride
Strabo, a Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian, even claimed to have set eyes on the temple-labyrinth himself. "Before the entrances, there lie what might be called hidden chambers which are long and many in number and have paths running through one another which twist and turn so that no one can enter or leave any court without a guide," wrote Strabo in his work. Among others, the labyrinth was also mentioned by Roman geographer Pomponius Mela and Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who revealed one of its most vivid descriptions: "When one had entered the sacred enclosure, one found a temple surrounded by columns, 40 to each side, and this building had a roof made of a single stone, carved with panels and richly adorned with excellent paintings."
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (Labyrinth Edition)
But if this fabulous labyrinth is real, where on earth could it be hidden? To find the missing piece, let's roll back the clock to the Mataha expedition, a scientific mission that set sail in search of the labyrinth using top-notch tech. They zeroed in on the ancient writings by Herodotus, who revealed that the labyrinth was "situated a little above the lake of Moiris and nearly opposite to that which is called the City of Crocodiles." If we were to follow his breadcrumbs and take a trip to the city of Crocodilopolis, located on the western bank of Egypt's Nile River, just between the river and Lake Moeris, we'd stumble upon a fascinating site. South of the city of Crocodiles is an archaeological site called Hawar, where the Pyramid of Amenemhat III, the last king of the 12th dynasty, stands in ruins.
In 1889, British archaeologist William Flinders Petrie made a yet-to-be-confirmed discovery at this site. He unearthed a massive stone plateau measuring 304m by 244m. The experts argued that it could be either the foundation or the roof of the ancient labyrinth. But more recent explorations by the Mataha expedition suggest that it might be the upper part of the roof, and the labyrinth could be buried beneath it. Using ground-penetrating radar, the researchers discovered an extensive site with vast chambers, halls, and walls several meters thick hidden below the surface. The scans confirmed that writers of antiquity had mentioned a massive, unexplored structure located beneath our feet that had remained untouched for millennia. Although the site has not been studied nor explored extensively since 2008, these exciting discoveries continue to unravel secrets from ancient Egyptian architecture and history.
Stay tuned for more thrilling tales from the land of the pharaohs!Enter our Telegram group to join the discussion and be a part of awesome giveaways. t.me/our website
- The ancient labyrinth described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC, a structure with over 3,000 rooms and covered in intricate paintings and hieroglyphics, is one of Egypt's most intriguing mysteries.
- Strabo, a Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian, claimed to have seen the temple-labyrinth himself, describing it as having hidden chambers with twisting and turning paths that require a guide to navigate.
- The location of this mysterious labyrinth has been a subject of debate, with the Mataha expedition suggesting that it might be located at the archaeological site of Hawar, south of the city of Crocodiles, where a massive stone plateau was discovered in 1889.
- Ground-penetrating radar scans of the site revealed extensive hidden chambers, halls, and walls beneath the surface, adding to the fascination surrounding this ancient structure and its potential connection to the labyrinth mentioned in antiquity.
