66 An Ancient Puzzle

Perhaps you are an individual who enjoys working puzzles requiring that you trace your way through a network of confusing pathways even sometimes dead-end paths. If so, you have been solved by a device that labyrinths have historically been regarded as sacred areas or gateways having magical powers; hence they frequently been positioned at the entrances of important ancient sites. One of the first recorded notions of a maze is found in the myths of the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster who devoured the youth that were sent to the maze next to where the beast was imprisoned and stayed it. Despite this legend, the ancient Greeks generally consisted of only a single twisting path with no intersections and were often used for processions or tranquil walking and meditation.

Magical or religious significance continued to be associated with mazes that in the Middle Ages. Along the shore in Scandinavia stand numerous stone mazes that fishermen of many walked through in the belief that they would repellent the sins of their medical catharsis for luck as they went to sea. Mazes also became a way to the center, causing the sinner to find their way back to God.

Eventually mazes came to be constructed mainly for pleasure. Royally built elaborate mazes in their gardens from hedges, and public parks for the middle classes copied the structures.

Mazes are still constructed and enjoyed today. The cornfield maze built by a Wisconsin family—in the shape of their state—to celebrate 150 years of statehood is one striking example.

66 一种古老的谜题

也许你是那种喜欢解谜题的人——需要在错综复杂的路径（有时甚至是死路）中寻找出路。如果是这样，你接触的这种装置就是迷宫。历史上，迷宫被视为神圣区域或具有魔力的通道，因此常被设置在重要古代遗址的入口处。最早有记载的迷宫概念之一出现在弥诺陶洛斯的神话中：这是一个半人半牛的怪物，会吞噬被送入它囚笼旁迷宫的年轻人。尽管有这个传说，古希腊的迷宫通常只有一条没有交叉的曲折路径，常被用于游行、宁静的漫步或冥想。

中世纪时，迷宫仍与魔法或宗教意义相关。斯堪的纳维亚海岸边矗立着许多石头迷宫，渔民们会走过这些迷宫，相信这能洗清他们的罪孽，为出海带来好运。迷宫也成了通往中心的道路，让罪人找到回归上帝的路。

最终，迷宫的建造主要是为了娱乐。王室用树篱在花园里建造精致的迷宫，中产阶级的公园也模仿了这种结构。

如今，迷宫仍在被建造和享用。威斯康星州一个家庭为庆祝建州150周年，在玉米地里建造了一个本州形状的迷宫，这就是一个引人注目的例子。