More Mazes

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Other Mazes

Hampton Court Maze, London

Situated in 'The Wilderness' it was built in 1690 probably to replace an earlier maze. It's a patchwork of different plants - privet, yew, hornbeam, holly, hawthorn and sycamore. It is a 'baffle-maze' and unlike the unicursal design, encourages you to lose yourself. Some bright spark said that to reach the centre, you keep turning left. This doesn't in fact work. I would publish a map, but that's cheating!

The Wilderness used to have a circular Troy Town, which co-existed with the current maze, but that was replaced by a rockery.

It remains popular with visitors, despite a move to cut it down some years ago.

Man in the Maize

This unicursal maze is a feature of Native American agriculturalists, the Pima, Hopi especially. While the Hopi version is more like the Knossos Maze, this Pima symbol is more angular. One interpretation is that the figure represents O'odham - the People and the maze itself is the Elder Brother's House - Creation or Life itself.

Another story is that of Titoi, travelling through the Maze of Life, and nearing his end, growing stronger and wiser at every turn. Like the Knossos maze, the end was death, or the underworld. On reaching the centre, Titoi turned and saw the path he had taken through life before being at one with his Creator.

The Hopi believed this symbolised Mother Earth, or Gaia.

Troy Town - St Agnes, the Scilly Isles

This pebble maze, at Camperdizil Point, is similar to many Scandinavian beach mazes was supposedly made by a bored lighthouse keeper in the 18th century. Again, it's a Knossos type maze, and records show that it replaces an earlier turf maze. The word 'Camperdizil could derive from an older name 'Deasel' meaning a sunwise motion.

The Scilly Isles are the legendary 'Lands of Lyonesse' from Arthurian mythology. This year on August 11th they will be one of the best places to see the total solar eclipse. Who knows? Will the Knights of Arthur rise again?

Rock Face maze at Tintagel, Cornwall.

This maze graffiti has no clear date. The 'pecking' technique used to make the incised lines is very similar to late Neolithic, and although similar in some ways to the many 'cup-marks' cut on rocks especially in Northern Britain, some believe it is too sophisticated for that period. More cynical observers believe it's a tourist graffiti cut maybe in the 1900's.

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	Hampton Court Maze, London Situated in 'The Wilderness' it was built in 1690 probably to replace an earlier maze. It's a patchwork of different plants - privet, yew, hornbeam, holly, hawthorn and sycamore. It is a 'baffle-maze' and unlike the unicursal design, encourages you to lose yourself. Some bright spark said that to reach the centre, you keep turning left. This doesn't in fact work. I would publish a map, but that's cheating! The Wilderness used to have a circular Troy Town, which co-existed with the current maze, but that was replaced by a rockery. It remains popular with visitors, despite a move to cut it down some years ago.
	Man in the Maize This unicursal maze is a feature of Native American agriculturalists, the Pima, Hopi especially. While the Hopi version is more like the Knossos Maze, this Pima symbol is more angular. One interpretation is that the figure represents O'odham - the People and the maze itself is the Elder Brother's House - Creation or Life itself. Another story is that of Titoi, travelling through the Maze of Life, and nearing his end, growing stronger and wiser at every turn. Like the Knossos maze, the end was death, or the underworld. On reaching the centre, Titoi turned and saw the path he had taken through life before being at one with his Creator. The Hopi believed this symbolised Mother Earth, or Gaia.
	Troy Town - St Agnes, the Scilly Isles This pebble maze, at Camperdizil Point, is similar to many Scandinavian beach mazes was supposedly made by a bored lighthouse keeper in the 18th century. Again, it's a Knossos type maze, and records show that it replaces an earlier turf maze. The word 'Camperdizil could derive from an older name 'Deasel' meaning a sunwise motion. The Scilly Isles are the legendary 'Lands of Lyonesse' from Arthurian mythology. This year on August 11th they will be one of the best places to see the total solar eclipse. Who knows? Will the Knights of Arthur rise again?
	Rock Face maze at Tintagel, Cornwall. This maze graffiti has no clear date. The 'pecking' technique used to make the incised lines is very similar to late Neolithic, and although similar in some ways to the many 'cup-marks' cut on rocks especially in Northern Britain, some believe it is too sophisticated for that period. More cynical observers believe it's a tourist graffiti cut maybe in the 1900's.