2. Troja
labyrinths
Using a
basic figure of a cross + 4 corner dots and maybe some corner angles to draw
lines or arches we get the walls for an interesting system of labyrinths known
for 3000 years in much of the world.
These labyrinths will here be called troja 1, troja 2 etc. and it will be shown how they can be varied
and fitted to different demands.
Symbols and units:
See the section on labyrinths in roma
style.
Contents for figures:
Fig. tr1: Troja
1, round, square, and rectangular
Fig. tr2: Troja
2, with lane pattern
Fig. tr3: Troja
3, with lane succession
Fig. tr4: Troja
2, complete square, multiple choice lanes
Fig. tr5: Troja
1, with a centre spiral
Fig. tr7: Troja
2, wave analysis
Fig. tr8: Troja
1, 2, 3 straightened out
Fig. tr1: Troja 1,
round, square, and rectangular
Troja 1 labyrinth. (Often called 3 circuit).
The most simple troja labyrinth,
or trojaborg labyrinth named after Trojaborg on the
The “walls”
between the lanes (or the dividing lines or the space between lanes) are constructed
as shown in detail A using a basic figure of a cross and 4 corner-dots.
The
labyrinth can be drawn in rounded form as shown in A or in square form as shown
in B, C, and D, with the complete square
form in C.
In detail E
only the walking lane is shown (for other types of labyrinths often only the
lane is shown).
Troja 1
can be stretched to rectangular form as shown in detail F and G.
A spiral
form is shown in fig. tr5 and
a triangular form is shown in fig. tr6 below.
Troja 1
complies with wave figur B as described in fig. r1 in section
4 about labyrinths in roma style.
As best
seen in detail A the troja labyrinths have a
characteristic lopsidedness at the entrance side from right to left, which can
be felt a disadvantage in planning a regular square or garden area to use this
labyrinth. To conceal this lopsidedness detail C shows a small wall to the left
of the entrance, which either moves the entrance to the corner or let the
labyrinth start by having a small blind lane to the left of the entrance, as
shown in fig. e1 and fig. e2. See also fig. tr8 below
and fig. e5 with troja
labyrinths straightened out by stretching.
Specialists
on labyrinths and lovers of cultural history and historic labyrinths find the
lopsidedness of the troja labyrinths an interesting
distinctive feature that emphasizes this labyrinth and its ancient cultic
mystery.
Fig. tr2: Troja 2,
with lane pattern
Troja 2
labyrinth. (Often called 7 circuit). The most used troja
labyrinth. It is found in different cultures in most of the world, e.g. the
Mediterranean, in Scandinavia, in North America, in India. The oldest
description of sure known origin found so far is on the back of a clay
tablet from Pylos in
The
labyrinth walls are designed using a cross + 4 angles + 4 corner dots.
The lane
pattern with its interesting succession is shown in detail B and detail E.
Troja 2
is shown below as a regular square in fig. tr4 and fig. tr8. See also troja 2
in fig. e2,
fig. e3, fig. e4, and fig. e5.
Troja 2
complies with wave figur
C, as shown in detail below in fig.tr7.
Fig. tr3: Troja 3,
with lane succession
Toja 3
labyrinth. (Often called 11 circuit). A big labyrinth which
is seen at some places, e.g. the fresco in
The basic
figure for constructing the walls is a cross + 4 big angles + 4 small angles +
4 corner dots, as shown in detail A.
As
indicated the labyrinth can be drawn in other figures than round and rectangular.
The
labyrinth can be stretched to a complete square or other rectangular forms as
shown for troja 1 and troja
2.
By
inserting more angles bigger labyrinths can be drawn (troja
4 etc.)
Troja 3
complies with wave figur
D.
Fig. tr4: Troja 2,
complete square, multiple choice lanes
Troja 2
made to a complete square and troja 2 with blind
lanes and multiple choice lanes.
(Blind lane
= dead end lane; multiple choice lanes = forked lane, many paths, multicursal).
On the
drawing of troja 2 a horizontal line is placed just
below the centre and all vertical lanes are stretched 1 (=1 lane width) to get
a complete square as shown in detail A.
By
inserting 1 or 2 extra lanes as shown in detail B we get a labyrinth with blind
lanes if we close the end walls and we get a labyrinth with multiple choice
lanes if the end walls are open. (Transverse walls and openings should not be
placed just anywhere. The troja style should be kept
with the long similar lanes. The style on the drawing with a stem and a crown
with big firmament should be kept).
Example: The ?1-wall is closed and the ?2-wall is
opened. If you walk furthest towards the centre from the start to walk lane B2
and coming to the other side of the stem choose the first lane to the left you
end again at the start. If you next time from start choose the next lane = lane
B1 you end in a blind lane. If you by start choose lane 1 and on the right side
of the stem turn to the right (because it is closer to the centre) you end by
start. This solution is used as square 20 troja labyrinth in fig. e3 in section 7 on this website.
Fig. tr5: Troja 1,
with a centre spiral
Troja
labyrinths (and other labyrinths) can be expanded by inserting a spiral in the
centre as shown here for troja 1. This labyrinth is
used as the centre labyrinth segment in the big combined labyrinth in fig. ph1. In fig. e1 in section 7 a small spiral is
used.
Fig. tr6: Troja 1,
triangular
Troja
labyrinths can be given other forms than the round and rectangular.
Here we see
a couple of examples designed from the round form in A, keeping the original
basic figure with the cross.
Fig. tr7: Troja 2, wave analysis.
Troja 2
labyrinth shown in detail A, is here cut open in B, the side pieces turned 90°
out in D, the outmost side pieces turned further 90° in E. This long figure is
compressed in F, the lane pattern drawn in H, turned 90° up and mirrored in J.
Then it is seen that the labyrinth complies with wave figure C in fig. r1 in section 4. In the troja
labyrinth lane 1 = lane 2 in the wave figure.
Fig. tr8: Troja 1, 2,
3 straightened out
The troja labyrinths have a characteristic lopsidedness at the
entrance side from right to left, which is not liked by everybody. This
lopsidedness can be corrected in different ways, e.g. with a small blind lane
to the left, or by moving the entrance to the left corner, as it can be seen in
fig. tr1 and tr4 above and in fig. e1, e2, and e3 in section 7. The lopsidedness can
also be straightened out by “stretching” the left side a little as done here.
By this the characteristic starting figure with a cross in the centre is
altered. See also the straightened troja labyrinths
in fig. e5 in section 7.
By leaving
out angles or including angles and dots other troja type
labyrinths “in between” those shown here can be made. Between troja 1 and troja 2 there can be
made 14 different labyrinths and between troja 1 and troja 3 the number is 78 new labyrinths, all with the troja cross in the centre + 4 dots in the corners + from 1
to 7 corner angles. Many of these labyrinths do not comply with the labyrinth
rules given by experts. One example of such a small labyrinth is given in fig. ph6 for the purpose of a philosophic
consideration and for illustrating that the word labyrinth originally means dance lane.
Contents of the other
sections:
5 Chartres Labyrinth in Chartres
6 Labyrinths
of chartres style
7 Comparing
labyrinth-examples