الدوامات الزخرفية في مصر و بعض المواقع الأفريقية خلال عصور ما قبل التاريخ

Abstract EN

The Prehistoric man expressed about himself through the art.

This latter was the mirror which reflected his imagination and cleared the reality of his life, it was an important way to translate his thoughts and beliefs in Egypt and Africa.

The decoration of the "spiral" was one of the most important decorative patterns known in Egypt and most Africa since prehistoric times.

The term "maze" refers to the general shape of this decoration, where the continuous spiral lines wrapped around each other and made the shape of a snail decoration.

It is worth mentioning that the spiral shape was not the only motive which expressed the idea of maze, there were also numerous geometric and zigzag lines among the rock inscriptions.

Vessels decoration was also found in many places during pre-historic and early dynastic period, it expressed also the idea of the maze.

This article will discuss the drawings and inscriptions of the maze appeared in Egypt and Africa since the Prehistory period in various forms and patterns, both within the subjects of the drawings and the rock inscriptions, or within the decoration of pottery vessels dating back to an era before and the early dynasty.

Perhaps the spiral decoration or interlocking decoration which pointed to the meaning of the maze was a symbol of eternity; permanence and continuity.

Thus, the decoration of the maze, in this case, has a religious and temporal significance expressed by prehistoric men through a philosophical-psychological view