5A. Medieval labyrinths,
examples
In this
section some examples of different types of Medieval and church labyrinths will
be shown, picked from the catalogue in the big splendid book “Through the
Labyrinth” of Hermann Kern (in English 2000, in German 1982). (If I am not
permitted to bring those copies I shall withdraw this page).
The very
famous labyrinth type from the medieval period is the Chartres
Cathedral Labyrinth described in section 5 of this website, with the
possibility to make a whole system of
The
labyrinths in this section can be classified in 3 groups:
The first
labyrinth below in fig. m1 is a simple otfrid labyrinth with 7 walls (= 6
lanes) for
Contents of figures
(photos):
|
from YEAR |
SIZE |
TYPE /wave |
ca. 1270 |
Ci18-6m6 |
otfrid 3 B |
|
871 |
Ci26-4m11 |
Otfrid 3 C |
|
1480 |
Ci33-11m11 |
otfrid 2 D |
|
1382 |
Ci16-4m6 |
otfrid 1 F |
|
1743 |
Ci20-8m6 |
otfrid B + C |
|
ca. 1175 |
Ci16-2 m7 |
troja 2 |
|
822 |
Si15-1m7 |
troja 2 |
|
ca. 1150 |
Ci30-8ch11 |
|
|
ca. 1200 |
Ci26-4ch11 |
|
|
1288 |
Pi25-3ch11 |
|
|
1419 |
Ci29-7m11 |
ch.approach |
|
1465 |
Ci34-12m11 |
ch.approach |
|
ca. 1400 |
Ci25-3m11 |
ch.approach |
|
ca. 1550 |
Ci16-2m7 |
ch.approach |
|
ca. 1250 |
Ci23-3m10 |
ch.approach |
|
1270 |
Spi33-11m11 |
ch.approach |
Fig. m1:
From a
Hebrew manuscript of
Ci18-6m6,
entrance: bottom, 3 waves B.
This is the
most simple otfrid labyrinth.
Explanation: The labyrinth is Circular with internal
goal, 18 lanes big in area or in cross
section, 6 lanes centre area, medieval, 6 lanes or 6 turns in walking. Entrance is at the bottom of this
drawing with upright centre figure. The basic wave
figure is B, as described in fig. r1 in section 4.
To better
see the wave figure in the labyrinth:
The same
procedure is done for the following labyrinths for seeing their wave figures.
Fig. m2: Otfrid’s Labyrinth
Labyrinth
in Evangelienbuch by Otfrid of
Ci26-4m11,
entrance: bottom, 3 waves C.
In the
medieval period 11 was special, 11 = number of evil. 11 falls 1 short of 12, a
holy number (12 apostles), and 11 exceeds 10 with 1 (10 commandments). 11 lanes
as prison for the minotauros. But when the 11 circuit labyrinth in a couple of
centuries changed completely as in Chartres to be holy and used for pilgrimage
walking on knees to the centre, it can be considered that the centre goal is
the 12’ circuit step and thereby specially holy.
Fig. m3:
From 9
labyrinth drawings by Sigmund Gossembrot the Elder, mayor of
Ci33-11m11,
entrance: bottom, 2 waves D.
Fig. m4:
From a
Hebrew Old Testament,
Ci16-4m6,
entrance: bottom, 1 wave F.
Fig. m5:
From this
Hebrew book (Remembrance of Jerusalem),
Ci20-8m6,
entrance: bottom, 1 wave C + 1 wave B.
Fig. m6:
Moon shape
Ci16-2 m7,
entrance: bottom, a troja 2 (i.e. wave figure C).
In Hebrew
the word
Fig. m7: Jericho, Abruzzi
Monastery
in
Ri14/15-1tr7,
entrance: top, a troja 2 (i.e. wave figure C).
The oldest
extant manuscript labyrinth.
Fig. m8:
From Corbie
near
Ci30-8ch11,
entrance: bottom, a Chartres labyrinth ch11
(Real Chartres is Ci29-7ch11).
(RR = 2
radial lanes).
Fig. m9:
Cathedral
of San Martino,
Ci26-4ch11,
entrance: right side.
Chartres labyrinth on a north wall, labyrinth
opening facing west.
The oldest
drawing found of the
Fig. m10:
Cathedral
of
Pi25-3ch11,
entrance: bottom.
Chartres labyrinth in an 8 sided polygon.
Fig. m11: Dante
From
manuscript Divina commedia in
Ci29-7m11,
entrance: top,
(Dante has
written the text which is allegoric and labyrinthine, but the labyrinth drawing
on his manuscript is done by somebody else much later).
Fig. m12: Marcanova
Manuscript
with illustrations of ancient edifices,
Ci34-12m11,
entrance: bottom,
Fig. m13: Solomon
Ci25-3m11,
entrance: right,
Solomon was
a king of
Fig. m14:
San Vitale,
Ci16-2m7,
entrance: bottom,
Fig. m15:
Bayeux
Cathedral, France, ca. 1250.
Ci23-3m10,
entrance: bottom,
10 lanes
system.
Fig. m16:
Spi33-11m11,
entrance: bottom,
Labyrinth
was destroyed 1778.
To section 5: the Chartes Cathedral Labyrinth.
To section 6: the chartres system labyrinths.