Does the labyrinth of Meride preserve the secrets of ancient Egyptian history?
Several ancient authors, including Herodotus, Strabo, Diodorus and Pliny, write about a legendary Egyptian labyrinth, in which the most important secrets of Egyptian history and of humanity as a whole were preserved. Many researchers believe that the Labyrinth of Meride, discovered in 1888, corresponds to the one described by ancient authors.
An underground labyrinth lost in the mists of history, full of hieroglyphs carved on its stone walls, where all the knowledge of ancient Egypt is said to be contained, is the subject of age-old legend.
Authors such as Herodotus, Strabo, Diodorus and Pliny have described its details in their works. However, the age of the labyrinth and its origins are unclear. Herodotus, an author of the 5th century BC, states that in his time the labyrinth was already 1300 years old and describes it thus, writing in his work:
"And I saw; it is superior to anything that can be said about it; the pyramids are already beyond any possible description, but the Labyrinth wins the comparison even with the pyramids."
What secrets did this legendary giant underground complex contain? Could his discovery be one of the most important in the history of humanity?
Many authors think that the Labyrinth of Meride, built in Egypt in Hawara near Lake Meride in the Fayyum, may correspond to the descriptions transmitted by ancient authors. Discovered in 1888 by the archaeologist Flinders Petrie, unfortunately only a few ruins and fragments of granite columns have survived from the original structure.
The area in which it was built, south of the pyramid of Amenenhat III, must have been around 7 thousand m2, on which 3 thousand rooms were built on two floors, one of which was underground, and twelve courtyards. It seems that its main purpose was religious. Ongoing archaeological studies are trying to reconstruct the complex and complicated plan of the building.
Herodotus' description seems to fit very well with the ruins discovered by Flinders Petrie:
"There are twelve covered courtyards, which have doors opposite each other and are: six facing north and six facing south, contiguous. The same wall closes them all around from the outside. There are rooms in double order. Those at ground level that I visited, crossed and those underground, 3000 in number, 1500 for each order".
Herodotus also writes that the legendary complex contained the coffins of the twelve kings who built the labyrinth, plus a resting place for sacred crocodiles. But, so far, no human body has yet been found inside the excavation.
According to archaeologists, the Labyrinth of Meride was an integral part of the funerary Temple of Amenemhet III (1842 BC-1797 BC). When Flinders Petrie explored the site before and during 1911, he found the names of Amenemhet III and his daughter Sebeknofru. In the complex, fragments of two colossal statues of the seated sovereign were found but of which only the pedestals remain.
For many years, no researcher has ever doubted that the labyrinth described by the ancient Greek authors corresponds to the Labyrinth of Meride. Except Erich von Däniken. In his book “The Eyes of Spinge” written in 2003, von Däniken analyzed Petrie's studies in detail, concluding that the real labyrinth has not yet been discovered, and perhaps he was right!
In his work, Herodotus writes:
"Next to the corner of the Labyrinth there is a pyramid forty orgies high on which large animals are carved. It is accessed by an underground road. In the center of the lake two pyramids rise. Each one stands for about 50 orgies and the part under the water counts as much.Above the pyramids is a colossal stone statue that sits on a throne. The ceiling of the rooms is made of stone like the walls full of sculpted figures, while each courtyard is surrounded by columns of white stones connected to each other to perfection. The roof of all these buildings is made of stone and so are the walls covered with inscriptions."
In 2008, the Mataha Expedition scanned Haware's soil, finding numerous indications of chambers and thick walls located at considerable depths below the surface.
The results of the scan, carried out to the south of the pyramid, show vertical walls of an average thickness of several meters, connected to form a number of closed spaces, characteristics that do not appear to be the layout of a labyrinth.
While digging, the researchers came across walls and structures about 2.5 m deep. There was nothing but mud brick walls and houses. This layer, according to archaeologists, dates back to the Roman and Ptolemaic periods.
Under this layer, a gigantic block of stone looms, which Petrie had already reported. The scientists then scanned the area under the block, and what they found confirmed their hypothesis: there are hundreds of rooms underneath. What Petrie thought was the floor was actually the ceiling!
The Mataha Expedition had made one of the greatest discoveries in history: underneath lies the legendary Labyrinth of Egypt. Unfortunately, this surprising discovery was not disclosed appropriately due to the incomprehensible ostracism of the Egyptian government.
The results of the discovery were published in 2008 in the scientific journal of the NRIAG, the details of which were illustrated in a public conference held at the University of Ghent. Immediately afterwards, Dr. Zaghi Hawass, at the time Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt has asked for the suspension of disclosure to avoid incurring sanctions dictated by the national security law.
Researchers waited patiently for the former secretary general to disclose the discovery to the general public, but this never happened. It is not clear whether Egyptian archaeologists are deliberately hiding something, or whether they simply fear losing (profitable) control over archaeological discoveries in their country.
In any case, the discovery of the Mataha Expedition is extraordinary, but at the moment there are no other inspections or excavations planned to understand what lies beneath the Hawara plateau. Many believe that there is the legendary Labyrinth of Egypt, the place where the most important secrets of the Egyptian history of all humanity are kept.
Have a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqmpT6T_2tU
