The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns
Thread your way through this aMAZEing history and delve into a curious experience!​

From prehistoric times, mazes and labyrinths worldwide have served as different symbolic, ritualistic, and practical purposes. Taken as a powerful metaphor for life's journey, they can be used as tools for meditation and learning at any level, even when completed for recreation. Maze images can be enjoyed as motifs themselves, but also in their material forms—a meditation, puzzle, dance, walk, ritual, pilgrimage, or simply a day out. 

Drawing upon a wealth of historical and classical literature; accounts written by explorers, archaeologists, and historians; and the output of modern and contemporary world-renowned experts and enthusiasts, social historian Dr. Julie Bounford explores the evolution of mazes through time and across continents, presenting their history in a fun and engaging format while challenging readers to solve over 100 mazes—many created exclusively for this book by illustrator and artist Trevor Bounford. Learn about:
  • The earliest recorded examples, legends, and mazes in the ancient world
  • Mazes used as sacred rituals and symbols that take us beyond the natural world
  • Turf, stone, hedge, and garden mazes, and sites of communal rustic revels
  • The modern revival, with mazes taken to forms never previously imagined
Explore how mazes can improve your mental dexterity and create mindfulness, and use the gazetteer to locate historical, replica, and interesting mazes that exist around the world today.

The Puzzlecraft series from Wellfleet Press tackles some of the greatest conundrums of our time. Learn how to navigate the world’s trickiest mazes, solve the most complex crosswords, and finally get the answer to “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Follow literature’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, as he guides you through hundreds of challenging cross-fitness brain exercises inspired by his most popular cases and adventures. You can also train your memory to perform better and learn the meanings behind your own personality traits or the traits of others. These handy and portable paperbacks are sized perfectly to travel, whether on vacation or just for your daily commute. The intricately designed covers and bold colors will capture your attention as much as the engaging content inside.

Other titles in the series include: The Curious History of the Crossword; The Curious History of the Riddle; Escape from Sherlock Holmes; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Code Breakers; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Math & Logic Games; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Visual Puzzles; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Lateral Brain Teasers; Solving Sherlock Homes; Solving Sherlock Holmes Volume II; Maximize Your Memory; and The Book of Personality Tests.

 
1128331752
The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns
Thread your way through this aMAZEing history and delve into a curious experience!​

From prehistoric times, mazes and labyrinths worldwide have served as different symbolic, ritualistic, and practical purposes. Taken as a powerful metaphor for life's journey, they can be used as tools for meditation and learning at any level, even when completed for recreation. Maze images can be enjoyed as motifs themselves, but also in their material forms—a meditation, puzzle, dance, walk, ritual, pilgrimage, or simply a day out. 

Drawing upon a wealth of historical and classical literature; accounts written by explorers, archaeologists, and historians; and the output of modern and contemporary world-renowned experts and enthusiasts, social historian Dr. Julie Bounford explores the evolution of mazes through time and across continents, presenting their history in a fun and engaging format while challenging readers to solve over 100 mazes—many created exclusively for this book by illustrator and artist Trevor Bounford. Learn about:
  • The earliest recorded examples, legends, and mazes in the ancient world
  • Mazes used as sacred rituals and symbols that take us beyond the natural world
  • Turf, stone, hedge, and garden mazes, and sites of communal rustic revels
  • The modern revival, with mazes taken to forms never previously imagined
Explore how mazes can improve your mental dexterity and create mindfulness, and use the gazetteer to locate historical, replica, and interesting mazes that exist around the world today.

The Puzzlecraft series from Wellfleet Press tackles some of the greatest conundrums of our time. Learn how to navigate the world’s trickiest mazes, solve the most complex crosswords, and finally get the answer to “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Follow literature’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, as he guides you through hundreds of challenging cross-fitness brain exercises inspired by his most popular cases and adventures. You can also train your memory to perform better and learn the meanings behind your own personality traits or the traits of others. These handy and portable paperbacks are sized perfectly to travel, whether on vacation or just for your daily commute. The intricately designed covers and bold colors will capture your attention as much as the engaging content inside.

Other titles in the series include: The Curious History of the Crossword; The Curious History of the Riddle; Escape from Sherlock Holmes; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Code Breakers; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Math & Logic Games; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Visual Puzzles; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Lateral Brain Teasers; Solving Sherlock Homes; Solving Sherlock Holmes Volume II; Maximize Your Memory; and The Book of Personality Tests.

 
21.99 In Stock
The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns

The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns

by Julie E. Bounford
The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns
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The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns

The Curious History of Mazes: 4,000 Years of Fascinating Twists and Turns

by Julie E. Bounford

Overview

Thread your way through this aMAZEing history and delve into a curious experience!​

From prehistoric times, mazes and labyrinths worldwide have served as different symbolic, ritualistic, and practical purposes. Taken as a powerful metaphor for life's journey, they can be used as tools for meditation and learning at any level, even when completed for recreation. Maze images can be enjoyed as motifs themselves, but also in their material forms—a meditation, puzzle, dance, walk, ritual, pilgrimage, or simply a day out. 

Drawing upon a wealth of historical and classical literature; accounts written by explorers, archaeologists, and historians; and the output of modern and contemporary world-renowned experts and enthusiasts, social historian Dr. Julie Bounford explores the evolution of mazes through time and across continents, presenting their history in a fun and engaging format while challenging readers to solve over 100 mazes—many created exclusively for this book by illustrator and artist Trevor Bounford. Learn about:
  • The earliest recorded examples, legends, and mazes in the ancient world
  • Mazes used as sacred rituals and symbols that take us beyond the natural world
  • Turf, stone, hedge, and garden mazes, and sites of communal rustic revels
  • The modern revival, with mazes taken to forms never previously imagined
Explore how mazes can improve your mental dexterity and create mindfulness, and use the gazetteer to locate historical, replica, and interesting mazes that exist around the world today.

The Puzzlecraft series from Wellfleet Press tackles some of the greatest conundrums of our time. Learn how to navigate the world’s trickiest mazes, solve the most complex crosswords, and finally get the answer to “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” Follow literature’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, as he guides you through hundreds of challenging cross-fitness brain exercises inspired by his most popular cases and adventures. You can also train your memory to perform better and learn the meanings behind your own personality traits or the traits of others. These handy and portable paperbacks are sized perfectly to travel, whether on vacation or just for your daily commute. The intricately designed covers and bold colors will capture your attention as much as the engaging content inside.

Other titles in the series include: The Curious History of the Crossword; The Curious History of the Riddle; Escape from Sherlock Holmes; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Code Breakers; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Math & Logic Games; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Visual Puzzles; Sherlock Holmes Puzzles: Lateral Brain Teasers; Solving Sherlock Homes; Solving Sherlock Holmes Volume II; Maximize Your Memory; and The Book of Personality Tests.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780760363027
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA
Publication date: 12/20/2022
Series: Puzzlecraft
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 192
File size: 31 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Julie E. Bounford hails from Cambridge, England; is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and works independently as a social historian, author and micropublisher. She has extensive experience of researching, writing, and disseminating local and popular history. In 2017 she project managed the Cambridge History Festival and received a personal award from the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History, in recognition of her 2016 illustrated social history of Heffers, famous booksellers since 1876. Julie’s blog can be found at www.jebounford.netTrevor Bounford is an illustrator, author, and artist who has been creating maps, charts, infographics, books, and art for over fifty years. Past work includes redrawing the London Tube map, devising 3-D floor-plans of museums and galleries, creating mazes, dot-to-dot, and other graphic puzzles. He has exhibited work in London’s Royal Academy and in The Mall Galleries. Now working from a garden studio near Cambridge, UK, he enjoys solving the graphic challenges of his day-to day commissions and devising visual conundrums.
 
Dr. Julie E. Bounford hails from Cambridge, England; is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and works independently as a social historian, author and micropublisher. She has extensive experience of researching, writing, and disseminating local and popular history. In 2017 she project managed the Cambridge History Festival and received a personal award from the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History, in recognition of her 2016 illustrated social history of Heffers, famous booksellers since 1876. Julie's blog can be found at www.jebounford.net

Table of Contents

Introduction  [includes a brief explanation of the different maze periods used in the book]

Chapter 1 -  The Origins and Definitions of Mazes [chapter covers the earliest recorded labyrinths, early forms, patterns, purposes and symbols: 2000 bce]
Chapter 2 -  The Classical Maze [chapter covers mazes in the ancient world, building on the origins: from 1500 bce  to 500 ce]
Chapter 3 -  The Spiritual Maze [chapter covers mazes in different world locations e.g. Asia, Indonesia, Africa and the Americas, including mazes as a symbol of tribal identity: from 250 bce]
Chapter 4 -  The Medieval Maze [chapter covers mazes in cathedrals, churches, castles and chateaux: from 500 to 1700 ce]
Chapter 5 -  The Rustic Maze [chapter covers turf and stone mazes: from 1300 to 1700 ce]
Chapter 6 -  The Romantic Maze [chapter covers hedge/topiary mazes and garden creations: from 1700 to 1900 ce]
Chapter 7 -  The Modern Maze [chapter covers mazes from 1900 to 2017 ce]
Chapter 8 -  Left Brain, Right Brain [chapter covers mazes as tools for personal development, solving puzzles and having fun]
Chapter 9 -  Mazes in Popular Culture [chapter covers mazes in movies (possibly television?), drama and literature]
Chapter 10 -  Mazes today: a Gazetteer [chapter includes a world map locating historical, modern replicas, famous and interesting mazes]

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References
 
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