Mazes and labyrinths

By W. H. Matthews. Distributor: Lulu. $24.99. 306 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1922).

What is the difference, it may be asked, between a maze and a labyrinth? Why "Cretan Labyrinth" and "Hampton Court Maze"?

The object of this book is simply to provide a read-able survey of a subject which, in view of the lure it has exercised throughout many ages and under a variety of forms, has been almost entirely neglected in our literature—the subject of mazes and labyrinths treated from a general and not a purely archeological, horticultural, mathematical, or artistic point of view.

Since its first publication, it still remains unique in the exploration of labyrinths and mazes. More than 200 illustrations support this scholarly exploration and an exhaustive list of over 290 references offers an Ariadne's thread in the study of this topic.

Contents

• Preface
• Book
  1. Introduction
     The Lure of the Labyrinth—Difficulties of Definition—The Subject and Object of this Book—The Lore of the Labyrinth—Some Neglected British Monuments—Destructive Dogmatism: a Plea for Caution
  2. The Egyptian labyrinth — Accounts of the Ancient Writers
     Enormous Edifices of Egypt—Herodotus: his Account of the Labyrinth, its Vastness and Complexity, and its Lake—Strabo’s Description—The Sacred Crocodiles—Accounts of Diodorus, Pomponius Mela, and Pliny
  3. The Egyptian labyrinth — Accounts of Later Explorers
     Decay of the Labyrinth—Travels of Lucas and Pococke—French and Prussian Expeditions—Researches of Flinders Petrie—Speculations regarding Original Plan—Purpose and Date of Construction
  4. The Cretan labyrinth — The Story of Theseus and the Minotaur
     Plutarch ‘s Life of Theseus; the Cretan Exploit—The Athenian Tribute—The Labyrinth of Daedalus—The Clue of Ariadne—The Fight with the Minotaur—The Crane Dance—Tragedies of the Hero’s Return—Other Accounts of the Legend—Speculations concerning Minos and Daedalus
  5. The Cretan labyrinth (continued)
     The Caverns of Gortyna—Statements by Later Classic Writers—Tournefort’s Voyage—Visits of Pococke and Savary—Cockerell’s Diary—Travels of Capt. Spratt—Connection of Gortyna Caverns with Traditional Labyrinth very improbable
  6. The Cretan labyrinth — Knossos
     Explorations of Sir Arthur Evans—Momentous Discoveries—Unearthing of the Palaces—Their Antiquity—Description of the Great Palace—The Maze on the Wall—The Hall of the Double Axes—The Cult of the Bull—Schliemann’s Researches—The Sport of Bull-Leaping—Possible Identity of the Palace with the Labyrinth
  7. The Etruscan or Italian labyrinth
     Other Labyrinths mentioned by Pliny—Varro’s Description of the Etruscan Labyrinth; the tomb of Lars Porsena—Speculations regarding it—Travels of Dennis—Labyrinthine Caverns in Etruria; Volterra and Toscanella—Extended use of the term “Labyrinth” by Strabo and Pliny—Reference to Mazes formed in Fields for Amusement
  8. The labyrinth in ancient art
     The Meander and other Rudimentary Forms—Seal-impressions—Coins of Knossos—”Unicursal” Nature of the Knossian Design—Graffito of Pompeii—The Casa del Labirinto—Roman Mosaic Pavements—The Tholos of Epidaurus—Labyrinthine Structure at Tiryns—Greek Pottery—Etruscan Vase—The Labyrinth on Gems and Robes
  9. Church labyrinths
     Algeria, Orléansville—Italy: Lucca, Pavia, Piacenza, Cremona, Rome and Ravenna—France: Chartres, St. Quentin, Amiens, Rheims, Bayeux, Sens, Auxerre, Arras, St. Omer, Poitiers, Chalons, Pont l’Abbé, Caen and Aix—Modern examples: Lille, Ely, Bourn and Alkborough—Meaning of Church Labyrinths—Lack of Support for Accepted Theory
  10. Turf labyrinths
      Local Names—The Alkborough “Julian’s Bower”—Juxtaposition to Ancient Ecclesiastical Site—A Fragment of Folk-lore—De la Pryme ‘s Diary—The Breamore Mizmaze—Romantic Situation—The Wing Maze—The Boughton Green Shepherd’s Race—Its Literary References—A Victim of the Great War—Mazes of Ripon and Asenby—The Song of the Fairies—Other Lincolnshire and Yorkshire Mazes—Stukeley on Julian’s Bowers—Wide Distribution of British Turf Mazes
  11. Turf labyrinths (continued)
      The Winchester Mizmaze—The Vanished Mazes of Dorset: Leigh, Pimperne, Dorchester and Bere Regis—Aubrey’s Notes on Wiltshire and Cotswold Mazes—The Saffron Walden Maze—The Comberton “Mazles “—The p. xii Hilton Maze and its Obelisk—The Cumberland “Walls of Troy”: Burgh and Rockcliffe—The Nottingham Mazes: Sneinton and Clifton—The Somerton “Troy-town”—Records of Old Mazes at Guildford, the Malverns, and in Kent—”Julaber’s Barrow”
  12. The origin of turf mazes
      An old Welsh Custom—”Troy” or “Turnings”?—Dr. Trollope on the Ecclesiastical Origin of Turf Mazes—The Welsh Figure—Criticism of the Ecclesiastical View—”Treading the Maze” in Tudor Times—Shakespearean References—Alchemy and the Labyrinth of Solomon—Figure in a Greek Monastery—Heraldic Labyrinths—The Question of the Roman Origin of Turf Mazes
  13. The floral labyrinth and the dwarf-shrub maze
      The Dwarf Box—Its use by Tudor and Roman Gardeners—Floral Labyrinths by De Vries—Some Quaint Horticultural Books: Parkinson, Estienne, Hill, and Lawson—Designs of Islip and Commelyn—”Queen Mary’s Bower”
  14. The topiary labyrinth, or hedge maze
      Topiary work of the Romans—Pliny ‘s “Hippodromus”—Dubious Mediaeval References—Rosamond’s Bower—Early French “Daedales”—Mazes painted by Holbein and Tintoretto—Du Cerceau’s Sketches—Elizabethan Mazes: Theobalds and Hatfield—Versailles and other Famous Labyrinths of France—Some German Designs—Belgian, Spanish, Italian and Dutch Mazes—William III and his Gardeners
  15. The topiary labyrinth, or hedge maze (continued)
      Hampton Court: the Maze and the Little Maze—Other English Mazes of the Period—Batty Langley and Stephen Switzer—Allegorical Labyrinth of Anhalt—A Wimbledon Maze—The Mazes of Westminster and Southwark
      The topiary labyrinth, or hedge maze (continued) — Latter-day Developments
  16. Decline of the Hedge-Maze Vogue—Mazes in “Pleasure Gardens “: North London, Smith London—Modern Mazes in Essex, Suffolk, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire—Some Modern Continental Mazes—The Case For and Against the Hedge Maze
  17. Stone labyrinths and rock engravings
      The Stone Labyrinths of Finland—Their Local Traditions and Nomenclature—Their Antiquity—Aubrey’s Acute Observation—Some Maze-like Rock Engravings in England, Ireland, and Brittany—A Curious Discovery in Arizona and a Spanish Manuscript—American Indians and the Cretan Labyrinth—Another Indian Pictograph—Zulu Mazes—Distribution of Labyrinth Cult
  18. The dance or game of Troy
      “Troy” in Labyrinth Names—An old French Reference—The Vase of Tragliatella—Virgil’s Account of the Troy Game—The Delian Crane-Dance—Knossos and Troy—Ariadne’s Dance—Spring-Rites—”Sympathetic Magic”—Sword and Morris Dances—Troy-dances in Mediaeval Germany and in Modern Serbia—Preservation of the English Traditions
  19. The bower of “Fair Rosamond”
      “Fair Rosamond,” Henry, and Eleanor—The Dagger or the Bowl—History of the Legend—Accounts of Brompton and Higden—Delone’s Ballad—Rosamond in Verse and Prose—Her Epitaph—A Question of Taste—Late Remains of the Bower—A Modern Play—Rosamond’s Alleged Portrait
  20. Maze etymology
      The Question of Definition again—Bowers and Julian-Bowers—What was a Bower and who was Julian?—The Labyrinth and the Double Axe—Chaucer and the Maze—Metaphorical Labyrinths—The Labyrinth in Scientific Nomenclature—The Meanings of “Maze”—Troy-towns and the New Troy
  21. Labyrinth design and the solution of mazes
  22. The Need of a Definition—Practical Limitations—Classification of Mazes and Labyrinths—Unicursal and Multicursal, Compact and Diffuse Types—Modes of Branching—Straight-line Diagrams—Speculations on the Knossian Figure—Hints on Maze Design—Principles of Maze Solution—A Word on Mnemonics—Harris at Hampton Court
  23. The labyrinth in literature
      Romance, Mystery, and Allegory—Labyrinthine Book Titles—Some Literary Monstrosities—Spiritual and Theological Labyrinths—Love, Labyrinths, and Anonymity—The Labyrinth in Modern Book Titles—Emblems—Melancholy Meditations in the Maze
  24. Miscellanea and conclusion
      A Maze Collector—The Labyrinth in Queer Places—The Maze on Paper and on the Sands—Mirror Mazes—A Temporary Hedge Maze—Maze Toys—A Verbal Labyrinth—The Maze in Place-names—A Plea for the Preservation of some Ancient Monuments
• Bibliographical appendix
• Index

Illustrations

• Egyptian Labyrinth. Portion of Ruins, circ. 1700. (Paul Lucas)
• Egyptian Labyrinth. Shrine of Amenemhat III. (Flinders Petrie)
• Egyptian Labyrinth. Restored Plan. (Canina.)
• Egyptian Labyrinth.
• Cretan Labyrinth. (Florentine Picture Chronicle [1889, 0527.41-42].)
• Cretan Labyrinth. (Italian Engraving; School of Finiguerra.)
• Cavern of Gortyna. (Sieber)
• Knossos. Maze-pattern on Wall of Palace. (After Evans.)
• Double Axe and Stepped Steatite Socket from Dictaean Cave. (Psychro)
• Knossos. View of Cist, showing shape of Double Axe.
• Knossos. Plan of Tomb of Double Axes, showing position in which relics were found.
• Tomb of Lars Porsena at Clusium.
• Poggio Cajella. Labyrinthine Cemetery. (Dennis)
• Bronze Double Axe from Tomb of the Double Axes.
• Early Egyptian Seals and Plaques. (British Museum)
• Early Egyptian Plaque or Amulet.
• Coins of Knossos. (British Museum).
• Graffito at Pompeii. (Museo Borbonico.)
• Mosaic at Salzburg. (Kreuzer.)
• Mosaic at Caerleon, Mon. (O Morgan, in Proc. Mon. and Caerleon Ant. Ass’n, 1866)
• Mosaic at Cormerod, Switzerland. (Mitt. Ant: Ges. Zurich, XVI.)
• Roman Baths at Verdes, Loir-et-Cher, showing Labyrinth Mosaic. (From De Caumont’s Abécédaire.)
• Mosaic at Susa, Tunis. (C.R. Acad. Inscriptions, Paris.)
• Greek Kylices shewing Exploits of Theseus. (British Museum)
• Greek Kylices shewing Exploits of Theseus. (British Museum)
• Labyrinth engraved on an ancient gem. (Maffei.)
• Labyrinth in Church of Reparatus, Orléansville, Algeria. (Prevost.)
• Labyrinth in Lucca Cathedral. (Durand.)
• Labyrinth in S. Michele, Pavia. (Ciampini.)
• Labyrinth in S. Maria-di-Trastavera, Rome. (Durand)
• Labyrinth in S. Vitale, Ravenna. (Durand)
• Labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral. (Gailhabaud.)
• Labyrinth in Amiens Cathedral. (Gailhabaud.)
• Labyrinth in Parish Church, St. Quentin. (Gailhabaud).
• Bronze Plaquette, Italian, XVIth Century. (British Museum)
• Labyrinth in Rheims Cathedral. (Gailhabaud)
• Amiens. Central Plate of Labyrinth. (Gailhabaud)
• Labyrinth in Bayeux Cathedral. (Amé)
• Labyrinth in Sens Cathedral. (Gailhabaud.)
• Labyrinth in Abbey of St. Bertin, St. Omer. (Wallet.)
• Labyrinth in Poitiers Cathedral. (Auber.)
• Labyrinth in Ely Cathedral. (W. H. M.)
• Labyrinth in Church at Bourn, Cambs. (W. H. M.)
• ‘‘Julian’s Bower,’’ Alkborough, Lines. (From a litho. supplied by Rev. G. Yorke.)
• Labyrinths on Tiles, Toussaints Abbey, Châlons-sur-Marne. (Amé) (see page 65)
• Turf-Labyrinth at Wing, Rutland. (Photo, W. J. Stocks. By permission of Rev. E. A. Irons)
• ‘‘Shepherd’s Race,’’ Boughton Green, Northants. (After Trollope.)
• ‘‘Mizmaze,’’ St. Catherine’s Hill, Winchester. (W. H. M.)
• ‘‘Troy-town,’’ Pimperne, Dorset. (Hutchins.)
• Turf Labyrinth, Saffron Walden, Essex. (W. H. M.)
• Mazles,’’ Comberton, Cambs. {Photo: W.M.H.}
• Turf-Labyrinth, Hilton, Hunts. {Photo: W.M.H.}
• Turf Labyrinth, Hilton, Hunts. (W. H. M.)
• ‘Walls of Troy,’’ Rockcliffe Marsh, Cumberland. (After Ferguson.)
• ‘‘Troy-town,’’ Somerton, Oxon. (From sketch by O. W. Godwin.)
• ‘‘Caerdroia.’’ (After P. Roberts.)
• Labyrinth Device of Archbishop of Embrun. (After C. Paradin.)
• Floral Labyrinth (based on Jan Vredeman De Vries, Hortorum Viridariorumque Formae, 1583).
• Herbal Labyrinth. (T. Hill, 1579.)
• Maze Designs in Seventeenth Century Manuscript. (Harley MS.)
• Maze Design by Adam Islip, 1602.
• Maze Design by J. Commelyn, 1676.
• Maze Design by J. Serlio (Sixteenth Century).
• Maze at Charleval. (After Du Cerceau.)
• Mazes at Gaillon. (After Du Cerceau.)
• Maze at Theobalds, Herts. (After Trollope.)
• Frontispiece
• Maze in Hatfield House, Herts. Plan (W.H.M.)
• Labyrinth of Versailles. Fable Group: ‘‘The Hare and the Tortoise.’’ (Perrault.)
• Labyrinth of Versailles. (Perrault)
• Labyrinth of Versailles. Fable Group: ‘‘The Fox and the Crow.’’ (Perrault.)
• Labyrinth of Versailles. Fable Group: ‘‘The Snake and the Porcupine.’’ (Perrault.)
• Labyrinth at the Tuileries, Paris. (After Du Cerceau)
• Labyrinth at Choisy-le-Roi. (Blondel)
• Labyrinth at Chantilly. (Blondel)
• Maze Designs by Andre Mollet, 1651.
• Mazes by G. A. Boeckler, 1664.
• Maze at Gunterstein, Holland. (N. Visscher, 1719)
• Gunterstein. Plan of Gardens, showing Maze. (N. Visscher, 1719)
• Gardens at Loo, Holland, with Mazes. (W. Harris, 1699.)
• Maze at Hampton Court. {Photo: G. F. Green}
• ‘‘The Little Maze.’’ {Photo: G. F. Green}
• Maze at Hampton Court. Plan. (W. H. M.)
• Hampton Court. The ‘‘Wilderness,’’ with Maze and ‘‘Plan-de-Troy,’’ in Eighteenth Century. (Engraving by J. Rocque, 1736.)
• Maze Design by Batty Langley (from New Principles of Gardening, 1728).
• Labyrinth Design by L. Liger (circ. 1700).
• Gardens of Trinity College, Oxford, with Labyrinth. (W. Williams, 1732).
• Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, with two Mazes. (J. Kip, 1720)
• Maze Design by S. Switzer (1742).
• Maze by W. H. Nesfield, in R.H.S. Gardens, South Kensington, circ. 1862. (From R.H.S. Guide.)
• Maze in Bridge End Gardens, Saffron Walden, looking South. {Photo: W.H.M.}
• Maze in Bridge End Gardens, Saffron Walden, looking North. {Photo: W.H.M.}
• Maze at Somerleyton Hall, Suffolk. (W. H. M., from sketch by G. F. G.)
• Stone Labyrinth on Wier Island, Gulf of Finland. (von Baer.)
• Stone Labyrinth on Coast of Finland. (After Aspelin.)
• Stone Labyrinth at Wisby, Gothland. (Aspelin.)
• Scandinavian Stone Labyrinth. (O. Rudbeck, 1695.)
• Danish Runic Stone Cross, with Labyrinth Figure. (O. Worm, 1651.)
• Rock Engravings, Routing Linn, Northumberland.
• Rock Engravings, Old Bewick, Northumberland.
• Indian Labyrinth Figure from Eighteenth-century Spanish Manuscript. (After Cotton.)
• Labyrinthine Pictograph from Mesa Verde. (After Fewkes.)
• Etruscan Wine-vase from Tragliatella. (Deecke.)
• Etruscan Vase. ‘‘Troy Dance’’ Details. (Deecke.)
• Etruscan Vase. Details, showing Labyrinth and ‘‘retroscript’’ label—’’TRUIA.’’ (Deecke.)
• Straight-line Diagram, Hampton Court Maze.
• Straight-line Diagram, Hatfield Maze.
• Derivation of Labyrinth Types from Rock-engraving Figures. (After Krause.)
• Allegorical Labyrinth. (German Print, circ. 1630)
• Sea-Side Sand Maze. {Photo: W.H.M.}
• Temporary Maze at Village Fête. (W. H. M.)
• Maze Toy by A. Brentano. (After Patent Specification.)
• Maze Toy by S. D. Nix. (After Patent Specification.)
• Maze Toy by J. M. Arnot.
• Maze Toy by J. Proctor.
• Maze Toy by H. Bridge. (After Patent Specification.)
• Path of Rat in Labyrinth; three stages. (Szymanski.) [Das Prinzip der kurzesten Bahn in der Lehre der Handlung. 282-287]