Photos

  • Лабиринты Заяцкого острова. Photo 1
  • Лабиринты Заяцкого острова. Photo 2

Description

The stone labyrinths on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island are a unique archaeological phenomenon that attracts the attention of researchers and mystery lovers. In total, there are about 35 labyrinths on the islands of the Solovetsky archipelago, of which 13 or 14 are located on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island.

Labyrinths are low spiral-shaped stone pavements of round or oval shape, with a diameter of 3 to 20 meters. They are created from local boulders and often have an entrance and exit in the same place. The line of the labyrinth consists of boulders installed in a row, while the lines are twisted in a spiral, sometimes with two spirals. Usually the entrance to the maze is on the south side, but there may be other options.

Researchers have proposed various hypotheses regarding the purpose of these mysterious buildings. One of them is that labyrinths could symbolize the border between the world of the living and the world of spirits, while serving to conduct rituals aimed at helping the souls of the dead in their journey to another world. Another hypothesis suggests that the labyrinths could have been used as models for complex fish traps.

The exact purpose of the labyrinths remains a mystery; researchers continue to study these mystical structures in order to reveal their secrets and understand their role in the culture and customs of the ancient inhabitants of the Solovetsky Islands.

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