Secret passage
**Historical Uses of Secret Passages:**
– Ancient Egyptians used secret passages to protect burial chambers.
– Early Christians in the 2nd century AD used hidden rooms for worship gatherings.
– Secret passages were used strategically in Bran Castle and during the French Revolution.
– The Passetto was utilized by Popes for escapes.
– Catholic priests in Britain used priest holes to escape persecution.
– Various tunnels and passages were used for smuggling and escape during different historical periods.
**Modern Uses of Secret Passages:**
– North Korea has dug tunnels towards South Korea since 1954, with skills exported to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
– Palestinian groups like Hamas have constructed tunnels for attacks and smuggling.
– A smuggling tunnel between the US and Mexico was discovered in 2006.
– Tunnels have facilitated illegal immigration, smuggling, and criminal activities.
– Contractors specialize in constructing hidden panic rooms for private residences for protection during break-ins or home invasions.
**Mythological and Fictional Depictions of Secret Passages:**
– Secret passages are common in mythological stories, fiction, and TV shows for entering supernatural realms or hidden areas.
– Greek mythology features stories of secret passages used for theft and deception.
– Detective and mystery stories often involve crimes carried out through secret passages.
– Authors like Enid Blyton incorporate secret passages in their works for adding mystery and intrigue to the plot.
– Role-playing games, board games like Cluedo, and video games feature secret passages for exploration and rewards.
**Technology and Construction of Secret Passages:**
– PBS.org offers information on building the Colditz Glider and the use of underground activities.
– North Korean provocative actions related to tunneling are detailed in a CRS report.
– Various articles discuss the construction and discovery of secret passages in historical contexts.
– Contractors use materials like steel and Kevlar to reinforce panic rooms for protection.
– Architectural designs and mechanisms vary in complexity for creating secret passages.
**References and Entertainment Involving Secret Passages:**
– Various media outlets and publications cover stories related to secret passages.
– Entertainment mediums like board games, video games, and literature incorporate secret passages for intrigue and gameplay.
– Visual clues and hidden areas in games provide rewards like bonus stages and shortcuts.
– Historical and archaeological discoveries related to secret passages are highlighted in various sources.
– The use of secret passages in various forms of entertainment adds to the mystery and excitement for audiences.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2008) |
Secret passages, also commonly referred to as hidden passages or secret tunnels, are hidden routes used for stealthy travel, escape, or movement of people and goods. They are sometimes inside buildings leading to secret rooms.
Others allow people to enter or exit buildings without being seen. Hidden passages and secret rooms have been built in castles and houses owned by heads of state, the wealthy, criminals, and abolitionists associated with the American Underground Railroad. They have helped besieged rulers escape attackers, including Pope Alexander VI in 1494, Pope Clement VII in 1527 and Marie Antoinette in 1789. Passages and tunnels have been used by criminals, armies (notably the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War) and political organizations to smuggle goods and people or conceal their activities.