The mysterious labyrinth of Amenemkhet III in ancient Egypt

In ancient Egypt, not only pyramids and temples were built with giant statues and columns, but also more mysterious objects. For example, in Fayyum, under the pharaoh Amenemkhet III, a maze was built, the appointment of which is still debated by historians.

Herodotus, who visited the Fayyum oasis and visited the labyrinth temple, spoke enthusiastically about it, considering it the most outstanding building built in all of Egypt. At the end of the 19th century, the British archaeologist William Flinders Petrie was able to partially confirm the words of Herodotus by discovering the ruins of a labyrinth with an area of ​​70,000 square meters. m. In the same period, the tomb of the pharaoh was found.

Until now, the meaning of the construction of such a labyrinth, analogues of which were not found in Ancient Egypt, is still not entirely clear. According to archaeologists, it was a grandiose structure in area, consisting of two levels: underground and aboveground. At each level there were about 1,500 rooms, which were connected by an intricate system of moves. At the same time, the entrance to the underground part was closed, and this territory of the temple was considered dedicated to the god Osiris.

To date, there is practically nothing left of the maze. The ruins of the pyramid of Amenemkhet III, as well as several blocks from the labyrinth itself, have been preserved.

Watch the video: Mystery of the Lost Labyrinth (May 2024).