Gedimedu
Second largest maze of
ancient stones found
A 2,000-year-old square
labyrinth has been discovered in Gedimedu, a village 16km from Pollachi, by a
team of researchers from the Verarajendran Archaeological and Historical
Research Centre, Tirupur. The finding attains significance as the site lies on
an ancient trade route that runs from Palakkad Gap to Alagankulam on the east
coast via Pollachi, Udumalai, Dindigul, Madurai and Thiruthangal.
With a complicated network
of paths, labyrinths have been a fertility symbol associated with many
cultures. They represent a unique pattern of consciousness and have been used
as a meditation tool and a wish-fulfilling symbol since the Neolithic period.
"The labyrinth has one pathway which leads inexorably to the goal from the
point of entry. One has to walk through the right path to reach the goal. It is
believed that the person who walks through the seven routes correctly will
fulfil his wishes," said S Ravikumar, who led the team of researchers
comprising K Ponnusamy, S Velusamy and S Sathasivam.
In Gedimedu, the square
labyrinth measures 56 feet X 56 feet and is the second largest ever found in
India. The most important fact, according to Ravikumar, is that its pattern is
the same seen on the Greek Pylos tablets. "The inner walking space of this
labyrinth varies from 2.6 feet to 3.6 feet. The entrance is towards the east.
Its old name is Seven Round Fort. The pattern is the same that we see on the
clay tablet from Pylos in Greece, one of the oldest labyrinths in clay,"
he said.
Some of the labyrinths were
discovered during the Neolithic period, namely Luzzanas (2,500 BC) in the
island of Sardinia. The Syrian labyrinths drawn on potsherds during 1,000 BC
and many others found in Scandinavian islands can be traced to the Megalithic
period. A circular labyrinth discovered during the 6th century AD
(post-megalithic period) in the caves of Andhra Pradesh are of great
significance. "Labyrinths were seen in the Hoysala period (1,006 to 1,346
AD) and this can be understood from the Abimanyu's Chakravyuha sculpture in the
Halabedu Hoysaleswara temple. The popularity of labyrinth lies in the
traditional 'kolams' drawn in front of our houses," said K Ponnusamy,
another member in the team. A year ago, archaeologist Sugavana Murugan
discovered the largest labyrinth in India in Kambainallur near Dharmapuri
district of Tamil Nadu.
The team is planning to
conduct more studies linking the labyrinth with the ancient trade route. But
there is a problem. "As the locals worship deities after constructing a
temple on top of the labyrinth, only 60% of the labyrinth is visible now. We
have asked them to remove it and clean the surroundings," said Ravikumar.
"This place lies on an ancient trade route. Terracotta lamps and
semi-precious stones were found from the nearby places. Megalithic period
structures like cist burials, cairn circles and hero stones were also found
here. The Roman coins obtained from this region belong to the 1st century AD.
We are now looking at the possibility of a detailed study of the
labyrinth," he said.
....
கெடிமேடு -
56×56 சதுர அடி பரப்புள்ள 2000 வருடப் பழமையான பெருங்கற்காலப் புதிர்நிலை
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