Labyrinth website                               (På dansk)

The straight road to an exciting experience goes through a circuitous winding labyrinth.

We shall here seek and follow Ariadne’s thread through system figures and wave figures.

Niels Mejlhede Jensen, Bøgeløvsvej 4, Virum, Denmark, jensen@dadlnet.dk

 

 

Abstracts

Labyrinths are an exciting, beautiful, and challenging decoration of e.g. squares and places with pavement of flagstones. In the following 7 sections I have tried a geometrical analysis of the 3 classic labyrinths: troja, roma, and chartres, (from Antiquity, Roman period, Middle Ages). Further they will be the basis for 3 different classes of labyrinths. These labyrinths can fit into almost any size, and a number of examples are included.

 

 

Contents

 

1    Labyrinths, introduction

            history, labyrinths for public squares

            5 pictures with historic examples fig. i1 – i5

      1A Philosophy in labyrinths

            6 figures ph1- ph6

2    Troja labyrinths

            (troja = Cretan labyrinth)

            3 troja sizes, with variants

            8 figures tr1- tr8

3    Roma-Piadena Labyrinth

            analysis, lane pattern = wave pattern

            3 figures Rp1 - Rp3

      3A Roman labyrinths, examples

            analysis of 13 roman labyrinths

            18 figures ra1 – ra18

4    Labyrinths of roma style

            (roma = Roman as in Piadena and Cremona)

            basic wave patterns for roma and troja; roma squares of several sizes

            16 figures r1 - r16

5    Chartres Labyrinth in Chartres

            analysis of lane pattern

            4 figures C1 - C4

      5A Medieval labyrinths, examples

            analysis of 16 medieval labyrinths

            16 figures m1 – m16

6    Labyrinths of chartres style

            basic system figures of lane patterns,

            8 figures ch1- ch8

7    Comparing labyrinth examples

            troja, roma and chartres labyrinths size 10, 15, 20 square, and circle 18

            5 figures e1 – e5


 

Summary

 

This website describes 3 classic types of labyrinths: from the Antiquity, from the Roman period, and from the Middle Ages. These labyrinths are connected with exciting legends and interesting philosophic considerations. My aim is to create an interest for using these beautiful labyrinth types as decoration patterns for flagstone pavements on private and public places, so that the pavement besides being beautiful to look upon and interesting to walk for children and adults also has an old historic cultural vision with the touch of exciting mystique.

 

In section 1 Labyrinths, introduction there are pictures with a short description of the 3 labyrinth types: troja, roma-piadena, and chartres. The other sections have many graphic figures.

In section 2 Troja labyrinths the more than 3000 years old troja labyrinth is analysed geometrically, and it is shown how it can be altered a little to fit with the space area and fit demands and wishes.

In section 3 Roma-Piadena Labyrinth the smart Roman labyrinth from Piadena is analysed.

In section 4 Labyrinths of roma style the roma-piadena labyrinth is developed to a system that can be adapted to many different sizes.

It is shown how the troja and roma labyrinths comply with some simple basic wave figures.

In section 5 Chartres Labyrinth in Chartres the beautiful labyrinth from the Chartres Cathedral is analysed so that the complicated lane pattern is shown in a more simple graphic depiction.

In section 6 Labyrinths of chartres style the Chartres Labyrinth is developed further to a system of chartres labyrinths, within rather confined rules.

In section 7 Comparing labyrinth examples the 3 types of labyrinths are compared in relevant examples.

 

In section 1A Philosophy in labyrinths there are aphorisms on some historic philosophic considerations on labyrinths. It is the (later) associated historic philosophy that makes these types of labyrinths so unique. Further there are shown 4 proposals for (big) labyrinths composed of the 3 classic labyrinths, and a special dance labyrinth is included.

In section 3A Roman labyrinths, examples 13 selected Roman labyrinths are shown and 2 of them are further treated graphically.

In section 5A Medieval labyrinths, examples 16 selected Medieval labyrinths are shown and shortly analysed geometrically.