Why labyrinths were constructed

In colloquial English, labyrinth is generally synonymous with maze, but many contemporary scholars observe a distinction between the two: maze refers to a complex branching multicursal puzzle with choices of path and direction; while a single-path unicursal labyrinth has only a single, non-branching path, which leads to the center. A labyrinth in this sense has an unambiguous route to the center and back and is not designed to be difficult to navigate. Although early Cretan coins occasionally exhibit multicursal patterns, the unicursal seven-course "Classical" design became associated with the Labyrinth on coins as early as BC, and became widely used to represent the Labyrinth — even though both logic and literary descriptions make it clear that the Minotaur was trapped in a complex branching maze.

Even as the designs became more elaborate, visual depictions of the Labyrinth from Roman times until the Renaissance are almost invariably unicursal.

Branching mazes were reintroduced only when garden mazes became popular in the Renaissance. Labyrinths appeared as designs on pottery or basketry, as body art, and etched on walls of caves or churches. The Romans built many primarily decorative labyrinth designs on walls and floors in tile or mosaic.

Many labyrinths set in floors or on the ground are large enough that the path to the center and back can be walked. They have historically been used both in group ritual and for private meditation. Pliny's Natural History mentions four ancient labyrinths: the Cretan labyrinth, an Egyptian labyrinth, a Lemnian labyrinth and an Italian labyrinth.

Labyrinth is a word of pre-Greek Minoan origin absorbed by Classical Greek and is perhaps related to the Lydian labrys "double-edged axe", a symbol of royal power, which fits with the theory that the labyrinth was originally the royal Minoan palace on Crete and meant "palace of the double-axe" , with -inthos meaning "place" as in Corinth.

A lot of these symbols were found in the Minoan palace and they usually accompanied female goddesses. It was probably the symbol of the arche Mater-arche:matriarchy. Zeus is depicted holding a double-edged axe. The complex palace of Knossos in Crete is usually implicated, though the actual dancing-ground, depicted in frescoed patterns at Knossos, has not been found.

A palace of similar complicated structure was discovered at Beycesultan in Anatolia, on the headwaters of Meander river. It is possible that daburinthos may be cognate with the name of Mt. Greek mythology did not recall, however, that in Crete there was a Lady or mistress who presided over the Labyrinth, although the goddess of mysteries of Arcadian cults was called Despoine miss.

A tablet inscribed in Linear B found at Knossos records a gift "to all the gods honey; to the mistress of the labyrinth honey. Mazes have retained their close relationship with gardens ever since—today, most public mazes exist in the form of hedge mazes or corn mazes, the latter being a distinctly American invention. England, with its long tradition of gardening, has mazes open to the public. In the United States, the most famous mazes—and the largest—are made from corn. Unexpected, in no small part, thanks to the maze's architect, the Danish-born Bjarke Ingels, partner of Bjarke Ingels Group, the Copenhagen and New York-based firm that designed the maze.

Crane Frankel asked Ingels to become involved with the maze project while working with the architect on another project for the museum an exhibit about the architectural process. It didn't take much convincing—Ingels agreed to the project hours after being asked. The maze went through a few design stages, with working designs ranging from a maze made of PVC pipes to one made of mirrors.

In the end, Ingels settled on a traditional square maze, 60 feet by 60 feet and 18 feet high all on the corners—with one interesting addition. The maze dips in from its high corners, sloping to a mere three and a half feet at its center.

It's a unique design for a maze, which is often meant to confuse visitors all the way through. Instead, the Building Museum's maze reveals itself at the center, allowing visitors to gain a sense of place and space before embarking back toward the tall edges and the exit. Visitors can also gain an interesting perspective of the maze by ascending to the museum's second and third floors, which offer an entertaining aerial view of the maze.

The maze, which will be open every day through September 1, is part of a larger plan created by the Building Museum to utilize their interior space in public ways—to effectively serve as a town-square for D. In the early 19th century, the utopian society Harmony constructed several labyrinths, including the vine and flower example at New Harmony, Indiana. The winding path of the trail encouraged followers to think about the journey we all take in life to reach contentment.

The labyrinth at New Harmony fell into disrepair as the community disbanded, but has since been built as a tourist attraction. Today, the shape of the labyrinth creates contemplative moments at sites such as public parks and schools. Used as part of meditation and other health programs, labyrinths at hospitals and retreat centers can help facilitate relaxation. When you think of the maze in popular culture, perhaps films such as The Shining and Labyrinth come to mind. But long before Jack pursued young Danny in a hotel hedge maze, these puzzling structures were an intriguing subject for artists, filmmakers, and authors.

The maze is often a symbol of danger, confusion, or, as in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , a challenge for characters on a quest. The hedge maze was once a mainstay of British formal gardens and estates. In their prime, hedge mazes provided privacy and entertainment for the members of the royal court at grand estates. Tourists can find examples of hedge and corn mazes at seasonal fairs. In Buffalo, Toronto, St. Paul, and other cities, festivals have long included an ice maze, with the largest using over 2, blocks of ice.

In Nebraska, a 54, square foot corn maze is so complex that visitors must use their smartphones to navigate the twists and turns. Mazes transform everyday spaces into whimsical, challenging pathways that temporarily change our relationship with the built world.

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