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Labyrinth
Building made up of
intricate,
mazelike chambers or passages so designed that a person entering one would find
it difficult to find a way out.
Among the many labyrinths
in the ancient world, perhaps the most celebrated was a funeral temple built by Amenemhet
III in Egypt, near Lake Moeris, which contained 3000 chambers. Equally famous was the
labyrinth on Crete, which may have existed only in myth. Its conception was possibly
derived from the elaborate floor plan of the palace at Knossos.
In Greek mythology, the Cretan labyrinth was
skillfully designed and constructed
by the Athenian craftsman Daedalus as a
maze
prison for the Minotaur ―
a part-man, part-bull man-eating monster ― commissioned by King Minos of Crete.
Daedalus revealed the secret of the labyrinth only to Ariadne, Minos'
daughter, who aided her lover, the Athenian hero Theseus, to slay the
monster and escape. In return, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son
Icarus
in the labyrinth. Unable to find the way out, Daedalus made waxwings so that
he and his son could fly out of the maze. Icarus, however, flew too close to
the sun; his wings melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned. Daedalus
flew to Sicily, where he was welcomed by King Cocalus. King Minos later
pursued Daedalus but was killed by Cocalus' daughters.
Other ancient labyrinths
were on the island of
Lemnos (Lemnian) and at Clusium (now
Chiusi), Italy. The term
labyrinth is also applied to mazelike patterns on the floors of some medieval churches,
intended perhaps to symbolize the tortuous journey of Christian
pilgrims toward salvation. Garden mazes walled by clipped hedges are also called
labyrinths, as, for example, that at Hampton Court, London, planted in the 17th century
and still existent. Another British turf maze deserving note is the one at Alkborough in
Lincolnshire.
Related
audio,
videos
and books.
Further info:
Jo Edkins' Maze Page.
Labyrinthos Photo Library.
Labyrinths and Mazes.
The Centre
of the Labyrinth.
The Riddle of the Labyrinth.
What is the difference between a labyrinth and a maze?
More
info.
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