MAZES AND LABYRINTHS - A general account of their history and development

W. H. Matthews

Summary

A DELIGHTFUL air of romance and mystery surrounds the whole subject of Labyrinths and Mazes.

The hedge-maze, which is the only type with which most of us have a first-hand acquaintance, is generally felt to be a survival of a romantic age, even though we esteem its function as nothing higher than that of a playground for children. Many a tender intrigue has been woven around its dark yew alleys. Mr. Compton Mackenzie, for example, introduces it most effectively as a lovers' rendezvous in "The Passionate Elopement," and no doubt the readers of romantic literature will recall other instances of a like nature. The story of fair Rosamond's Bower is one which will leap to the mind in this connection.

This type of maze alone is worth more than a passing thought, but it is far from being the only, or even the most interesting, development of the labyrinth idea.

What is the difference, it may be asked, between a maze and a labyrinth?

CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2. THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH

CHAPTER 3. THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 4. THE CRETAN LABYRINTH

CHAPTER 5. THE CRETAN LABYRINTH (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 6. THE CRETAN LABYRINTH (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 7. THE ETRUSCAN OR ITALIAN LABYRINTH

CHAPTER 8. THE LABYRINTH IN ANCIENT ART

CHAPTER 9. CHURCH LABYRINTHS

CHAPTER 10. TURF LABYRINTHS

CHAPTER 11. TURF LABYRINTHS (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 12. THE ORIGIN OF TURF MAZES

CHAPTER 13. THE FLORAL LABYRINTH AND THE DWARF-SHRUB MAZE

CHAPTER 14. THE TOPIARY LABYRINTH, OR HEDGE MAZE

CHAPTER 15. THE TOPIARY LABYRINTH, OR HEDGE MAZE (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 16. THE TOPIARY LABYRINTH, OR HEDGE MAZE (CONTINUED)

CHAPTER 17. STONE LABYRINTHS AND ROCK ENGRAVINGS

CHAPTER 18. THE DANCE OR GAME OF TROY

CHAPTER 19. THE BOWER OF "FAIR ROSAMOND"

CHAPTER 20. MAZE ETYMOLOGY

CHAPTER 21. LABYRINTH DESIGN AND SOLUTION OF MAZES

CHAPTER 22. THE LABYRINTH IN LITERATURE

CHAPTER 23. MISCELLANEA AND CONCLUSION

APPENDIX. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MAZES AND LABYRINTHS

Available since: 03/28/2017.

The Arts

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