Maze in Rock Art
The intricate maze design in rock art represents a visual challenge for the viewer, as their mind tries in vain to navigate the tangled paths to find a beginning and end. In the words of B. Montecchi (2016): "from Antiquity to the present day, it has acted as a powerful metaphor for a special human condition, not only of the body, but above all of the mind and soul,when we feel trapped and imprisoned with no way out." The complexity of these symbols creates a sense of unease, implying danger and symbolizing a metaphorical, difficult task, such as crossing the underworld. According to Zavaroni A. (2006), : '… labyrinths alluded to the mysterious routes available to souls and psychopomp gods for traveling from the terrestrial world to the Otherworld and back'.
The departing souls needed to leave a lasting legacy and the underworld journey was their final chance to avoid being forgotten by all. Thus, the underworld journey had to be completed. To convey this remarkable scenario, it had to be both imaginative and convincing, the maze represented this requirement at first glance.
Egyptian and Greek Maze
In ancient Egypt, the most famous labyrinth was described by Herodotus at Hawara near the Fayum Oasis (12th Dynasty, ca. 1800 BCE). This immense mortuary complex, attributed to Pharaoh Amenemhat III, contained thousands of chambers arranged in a confusing grid. Archaeological remains confirm a vast ceremonial structure, where the maze-like design reflected the perilous journey through the underworld.
In Greek mythology, the labyrinth was designed by the craftsman Daedalus for King Minos of Crete. Built to contain the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster, it symbolized the terrifying challenge faced by the souls entering the realm of death and renewal.
The Maze and the tri-finger Rock Art
The afterlife journey of the soul passes three realms: the underworld, earth, and heaven. Combining these symbols into a single image conveys this requirement. For instance, the depiction in Fig.2 incorporates four symbols: the maze ( symbol1), representing the underworld and the transition to earth, the tri-fingered bird (symbol2), serving as a divine guide to heaven, and the sun (symbol3), signifying a place of reincarnation. These symbols are all related to the journey of the soul in the afterlife
Fig.1 The maze and the tri finger bird rock art.(photo Razy Yahel)
This rock art illustrates the various realms the soul must traverse on its way to the afterlife. The convoluted maze starts at the bottom of the rock and ends at a flat indentation near the rock face, symbolizing the shift from the underworld to the earth. The intricate design of the maze represents the peril of the underworld journey. Upon completing this treacherous path, the tri-fingered bird leads the soul toward the sun, symbolizing rejuvenation and rebirth
The Maze and the bird Rock Art
The Greeks and Romans viewed death as a necessary phase for renewal. This transition is depicted in Fig.2. The large bird with outstretched wings (symbol2), retrieves the soul from the maze after completing the journey through the underworld, and carries it to the upper world. (symbol1) represents the soul as a baby, symbolizing reincarnation as the pure form of the deceased, who is then welcomed into heaven. The top of the maze resembles a face with two openings, which may signify the watchful eyes of the underworld deity
Fig.2 The maze and the bird carrying the soul in an underworld journey,
Negev Desert rock art. (photo Razy Yahel).
This scene depicts all the phases of the journey to the afterlife, including the passage through the underworld and rebirth. The maze, a cage without a clear exit, symbolizes the obstacles the soul faces during its journey. After navigating the maze, the soul continues on as a newborn, guided by the celestial bird (or maybe a stork).
The Maze and the Sun Journey
The scene in Fig.3 portrays the sun’s journey through the maze-like underworld. In this scene, we see the moment the sun, the circle (symbol 2), emerges from the underworld. The maze (symbol 3) starts at the bottom, indicating the underworld, and leads to the flat surface, symbolizing the transition to the earth. After its journey through the underworld, the sun travels through the sky in a golden wagon (symbol 1), a concept known from Roman mythology.
Fig.3 The maze and the Sun wagon in the underworld journey, Negev Desert rock art.
(photo Razy Yahel)
Conclusion
From the Negev Desert to Egypt and Greece, labyrinths expressed humanity’s deepest concerns about death, renewal, and transcendence. In rock art, the maze symbolized the perilous underworld journey; at Hawara it became an immense architectural metaphor for rebirth; and in Crete it embodied the mythical trial of the Minotaur. Despite cultural differences, all share the same message: the soul must face confusion, danger, and darkness before emerging renewed. The labyrinth, whether carved on stone, built in brick, or imagined in myth, became a timeless map of the human quest for passage from mortality toward eternal life.
The maze designs in rock art represent the treacherous and dangerous path that the soul must navigate to reach the afterlife. The various rock art scenes combine symbols, such as the tri-fingered bird, the sun, and the celestial bird, that help the soul journey through the underworld.
In Zavaroni A. (2006) words, 'The prehistoric labyrinths simply denote a conception of the world related to the rebirth of souls. To depict or to carve them is not only an act of veneration but also has a didactic explanation for those alive. In essence, the maze describes a mental process associated with the painful departure from the living world. Modern maze interpretation shifted from death into a life journey symbolizing the choices in selecting the right path to achieve a goal such as finding god or reaching salvation
Bibliography
Ajit Kumar (2015) Labyrinths in Rock Art: Morphology and Meaning
B Montecchi 2016 The labyrinth: building, myth, and symbol
Lankester, D. (2012) Predynastic & Pharaonic era Rock-Art in Egypt’s Central Eastern Desert.
Kristiansen, K. (2010) The Sun journey in Indo-European mythology and Bronze Age rock art.
Kern, H. (2000). Through the Labyrinth: Designs and Meanings over 5000 Years.
Matthews, W. H. (2015) Mazes and Labyrinths
Penelope R.D, (2012) The Idea of a Labyrinth
Zavaroni A. (2006) Souls across the Labyrinth: Representations of Rebirth in the Bronze/Iron Age in Europe
