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
Contents
history,
labyrinths for public squares
5 pictures with historic examples
fig. i1 – i5
6 figures ph1- ph6
(troja = Cretan labyrinth)
3
troja sizes, with variants
8 figures tr1- tr8
analysis,
lane pattern = wave pattern
3 figures Rp1 - Rp3
analysis
of 13 roman labyrinths
18 figures ra1 – ra18
(roma = Roman as in Piadena and
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
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
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
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.