and
Development
by
W. H. MATTHEWS
[1922]
ADVANTAGES out of all proportion to the importance of the immediate aim in view are apt to accrue whenever an honest endeavour is made to find an answer to one of those awkward questions which are constantly arising from the natural working of a child's mind. It was an endeavour of this kind which formed the nucleus of the inquiries resulting in the following little essay.
It is true that the effort in this case has not led to complete success in so far as that word denotes the formulation of an exact answer to the original question, which, being one of a number evoked by parental experiments in seaside sand-maze construction, was: "Father, who made mazes first of all?" On the other hand, one hesitates to apply so harsh a term as "failure" when bearing in mind the many delightful excursions, rural as well as literary, which have been involved and the alluring vistas of possible future research that have been opened up from time to time in the course of such excursions.
By no means the least of the adventitious benefits enjoyed by the explorer has been the acquisition of a keener sense of appreciation of the labours of the archaeologist, the anthropologist, and other, more special, types of investigator, any one of whom would naturally be far better qualified to discuss the theme under consideration--at any rate from the standpoint of his particular branch of learning--than the present author can hope to be.
The special thanks of the writer are due to Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie for permission to make use of his diagram of the conjectural restoration of the Labyrinth of Egypt, Fig. 4, and the view of the shrine of Amenemhat III, Fig. 2, also for facilities to sketch the Egyptian plaque in his collection which is shown in Fig. 19 and for drawing the writer's attention thereto; to Sir Arthur Evans for the use of his illustrations of double axes and of the Tomb of the Double Axe which appear as Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 respectively (Fig. 8 is also based on one of his drawings); to M. Picard (of the Librairie A. Picard) for leave to reproduce the drawing of the Susa mosaic, Fig. 37; to Mr. J. H. Craw, F.S.A. (Scot.), Secretary of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, for the use of the illustrations of sculptured rocks, Figs. 128 and 129; to the Rev. E. A. Irons for the photograph of the Wing maze, Fig. 60, and to the Rev. G. Yorke for the figure of the Alkborough "Julian's Bower," Fig. 59.
The many kind-hearted persons who have earned the gratitude of the writer by acceding to his requests for local information, or by bringing useful references to his notice, will perhaps take no offence if he thanks them collectively, though very heartily, in this place. In most cases where they are not mentioned individually in the text they will be found quoted as authorities in the bibliographical appendix. The present is, however, the most fitting place in which to express a cordial acknowledgment of the assistance rendered by the writer's friend, Mr. G. F. Green, whose skill and experience in the photographic art has been of very great value.
Grateful recognition must also be made of the help and courtesy extended to the writer by the officials of several libraries, museums, and other institutions, notably the British Museum, the Society of Antiquaries, Sion College, and the Royal Horticultural Society.
W. H. M.
Ruislip, Middlesex.
1922.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
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
CHAPTER II
THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH
(i) 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
CHAPTER III
THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH (continued)
(ii) 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
CHAPTER IV
THE CRETAN LABYRINTH
(i) 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
CHAPTER V
THE CRETAN LABYRINTH (continued)
(ii) 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
CHAPTER VI
THE CRETAN LABYRINTH (continued)
(iii) 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
CHAPTER VII
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
CHAPTER VIII
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
CHAPTER IX
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
CHAPTER X
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
CHAPTER XI
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"
CHAPTER XII
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
CHAPTER XIII
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"
CHAPTER XIV
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
CHAPTER XV
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
CHAPTER XVI
THE TOPIARY LABYRINTH, OR HEDGE MAZE (continued)
Latter-day Developments
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
CHAPTER XVII
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
CHAPTER XVIII
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
CHAPTER XIX
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
CHAPTER XX
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
CHAPTER XXI
LABYRINTH DESIGN AND THE SOLUTION OF MAZES
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
CHAPTER XXII
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
CHAPTER XXIII
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
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MAZES AND LABYRINTHS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
1. EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH. Portion of Ruins, circ. 1700. (P. Lucas)
2. EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH. Shrine of Amenemhat III. (Flinders Petrie)
3. EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH. Restored Plan. (Canina)
4. EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH. Restored Plan. (Flinders Petrie)
5. CRETAN LABYRINTH. (Florentine Picture Chronicle)
6. CRETAN LABYRINTH. (Italian Engraving: School of Finiguerra)
7. CAVERN OF GORTYNA. (Sieber)
8. KNOSSOS. Maze-pattern on Wall of Palace. (After Evans)
9. DOUBLE-AXE AND SOCKET FROM DICTAEAN CAVE. (Evans)
10. TOMB OF DOUBLE AXES. Plan. (Evans)
11. TOMB OF DOUBLE AXES. View of the Cist. (Evans)
12. BRONZE DOUBLE AXE FROM TOMB OF DOUBLE AXES. (Evans)
13. TOMB OF LARS PORSENA AT CLUSIUM. Restoration. (Q. de Quincy)
14. POGGIO CAJELLA. Labyrinthine Cemetery. (Dennis)
15, 16, 17, 18. EARLY EGYPTIAN SEALS AND PLAQUES. (British Museum)
19. EARLY EGYPTIAN PLAQUE OR AMULET. (Prof. Flinders Petrie's Collection, Univ. Coll., London).
20 to 25. COINS OF KNOSSOS. (British Museum)
26 to 31. COINS OF KNOSSOS. (British Museum)
32. GRAFFITO AT POMPEII. (Mus. Borb. XIV. 1852)
33. MOSAIC AT SALZBURG. (Kreuzer)
34. MOSAIC AT CAERLEON. (O. Morgan)
35. MOSAIC AT VERDES, LOIR-ET-CHER. (De Caumont)
36. MOSAIC AT CORMEROD, SWITZERLAND. (Mitt. Ant. Ges. Zurich, XVI)
37. MOSAIC AT SUSA, TUNIS. (C. R. Acad. Inscriptions, Paris, 1892)
38. GREEK KYLIX, SHOWING EXPLOITS OF THESEUS. (British Museum)
39. ANOTHER THESEUS KYLIX. (British Museum)
40. LABYRINTH ENGRAVED ON ANCIENT GEM. (Maffei)
41. BRONZE PLAQUETTE. Italian XVIth Century. (British Museum).
42. LABYRINTH IN CHURCH OF REPARATUS, ORLÉANSVILLE, ALGERIA. (Prevost)
43. LABYRINTH IN LUCCA CATHEDRAL. (Durand)
44. LABYRINTH IN S. MICHELE, PAVIA. (Ciampini)
45. LABYRINTH IN S. MARIA-DI-TRASTAVERA, ROME. (Durand)
46. LABYRINTH IN S. VITALE, RAVENNA. (Durand)
47. LABYRINTH IN CHARTRES CATHEDRAL. (Gailhabaud)
48. LABYRINTH IN AMIENS CATHEDRAL. (Gailhabaud)
49. LABYRINTH IN PARISH CHURCH, ST. QUENTIN. (Gailhabaud)
50. LABYRINTH IN RHEIMS CATHEDRAL. (Gailhabaud)
51. LABYRINTH IN AMIENS CATHEDRAL, CENTRAL PLATE. (Gailhabaud)
52. LABYRINTH IN BAYEUX CATHEDRAL. (Amê)
53. LABYRINTH IN SENS CATHEDRAL. (Gailhabaud)
54. LABYRINTH IN ABBEY OF ST. BERTIN, ST. OMER. (Wallet)
55. LABYRINTH IN POITIERS CATHEDRAL. (Auber)
56. LABYRINTHS ON TILES. Toussaints Abbey, Chalons. (Amé)
57. LABYRINTH IN ELY CATHEDRAL. (W. H. M.)
58. LABYRINTH IN CHURCH AT BOURN, CAMBS. (W. H. M.)
59. "JULIAN'S BOWER," ALKBOROUGH, LINCS. (Litho., Rev. G. Yorke)
60. TURF LABYRINTH AT WING, RUTLAND. (Photo, W. J. Stocks; by permission of Rev. E. A. Irons)
61. "SHEPHERD'S RACE," BOUGHTON GREEN, NORTHANTS. (After Trollope)
62. "MIZMAZE," ST. CATHERINE'S HILL, WINCHESTER. (W. H. M.)
63. TURF LABYRINTH, PIMPERNE, DORSET. (Hutchins)
64. TURF LABYRINTH, SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX. (W. H. M.)
65. "THE MAZLES," COMBERTON, CAMBS. (Photo, W. H. M.)
66. TURF LABYRINTH, HILTON, HUNTS. (W. H. M.)
67. TURF LABYRINTH, HILTON, HUNTS. (Photo, W. H. M.)
68. "WALLS OF TROY," ROCKCLIFFE MARSH, CUMBERLAND. (After Ferguson)
69. "TROY-TOWN," SOMERTON, OXON. (From sketch by O. W. Godwin)
70. "CAERDROIA." (After P. Roberts)
71. LABYRINTH DEVICE OF ARCHBISHOP OF EMBRUN. (After C. Paradin).
72. FLORAL LABYRINTH. (De Vries)
73. FLORAL LABYRINTH. (De Vries)
74. FLORAL LABYRINTH. (De Vries)
75, 76. HERBAL LABYRINTHS. (T. Hill)
77, 78. MAZE DESIGNS IN XVIITH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT. (Harley MS., Brit. Mus.)
79. MAZE DESIGN BY ADAM ISLIP, 1602
80. MAZE DESIGN BY J. COMMELYN, 1676
81. MAZE DESIGN BY J. SERLIO. (XVIth Century)
82. MAZE AT CHARLEVAL. (After Du Cerceau)
83, 84. MAZES AT GAILLON. (After Du Cerceau)
85. MAZE AT THEOBALDS, HERTS. (After Trollope)
86. MAZE AT HATFIELD, HERTS. (Photo, G. F. Green)
87. MAZE AT HATFIELD, HERTS. Plan. (W. H. M.)
88. LABYRINTH OF VERSAILLES. (Perrault)
89. LABYRINTH OF VERSAILLES. Fable Group: "Hare and Tortoise"
90. LABYRINTH OF VERSAILLES. Fable Group: "Fox and Crow"
91. LABYRINTH OF VERSAILLES. Fable Group: "Snake and Porcupine"
92. LABYRINTH AT THE TUILERIES, PARIS. (After Du Cerceau)
93. LABYRINTH AT CHOISY-LE-ROI. (Blondel)
94. LABYRINTH AT CHANTILLY. (Blondel)
95, 96. MAZE DESIGNS BY ANDRÉ MOLLET. ("Le Jardin de Plaisir," 1651)
97 to 106. MAZE DESIGNS BY G. A. BOECKLER. ("Architectura Curiosa Nova," 1664)
107. MAZE AT GUNTERSTEIN, HOLLAND. (Nicholas Visscher)
108. MAZE AT GUNTERSTEIN, HOLLAND. Plan. (Visscher)
109. GARDENS AT LOO, HOLLAND, WITH MAZES. (W. Harris)
110. MAZE AT HAMPTON COURT. (Photo, G. F. Green)
111. MAZE AT HAMPTON COURT. Plan. (W. H. M.)
112. HAMPTON COURT. Mazes and "Plan-de-Troy" in XVIIIth Century. (Engraving, J. Rocque, 1736)
113. HAMPTON COURT. "The Little Maze." (Photo, G. F. Green)
114. LABYRINTH DESIGN BY L. LIGER. (From London and Wise)
115. MAZE DESIGN BY BATTY LANGLEY. ("New Principles of Gardening," 1728)
116. MAZE DESIGN BY BATTY LANGLEY. ("New Principles of Gardening," 1728)
117. LABYRINTH AT TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD. (Williams)
118. WREST PARK, BEDS., WITH TWO MAZES. (Kip)
119. MAZE DESIGN BY STEPHEN SWITZER. ("Ichnographia Rustica," 1742)
120. MAZE IN R.H.S. GARDENS, STH. KENSINGTON. (After Nesfield)
121. MAZE IN BRIDGE END GARDENS, SAFFRON WALDEN. Looking S. (Photo, W. H. M.)
122. MAZE IN BRIDGE END GARDENS, SAFFRON WALDEN. Looking N. (Photo, W. H. M.)
123. MAZE AT SOMERLEYTON HALL, SUFFOLK. (W. H. M., from sketch by G. F. Green)
124. STONE LABYRINTH ON WIER ISLAND, GULF OF FINLAND. (Von Baer)
125. STONE LABYRINTH ON FINNISH COAST. (Aspelin)
126. STONE LABYRINTH AT WISBY, GOTHLAND. (Aspelin)
127. SCANDINAVIAN STONE LABYRINTH. (Rudbeck)
128. OLD DANISH STONE CROSS, WITH LABYRINTH. (O. Worm)
129. ROCK ENGRAVINGS, ROUTING LINN, NORTHUMBERLAND. (G. Tate)
130. ROCK ENGRAVINGS, OLD BEWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND(G. Tate)
131. INDIAN LABYRINTH, FROM XVIIITH CENTURY SPANISH MANUSCRIPT. (After Cotton)
132. LABYRINTHINE PICTOGRAPH, MESA VERDE. (After Fewkes)
133. ETRUSCAN WINE-VASE FROM TRAGLIATELLA. (After Deecke)
134, 135. ETRUSCAN WINE-VASE FROM TRAGLIATELLA. "Troy Dance" Details. (After Deecke)
136. STRAIGHT-LINE DIAGRAM. Hampton Court Maze
137. STRAIGHT-LINE DIAGRAM. Hatfield Maze
138, 139. DERIVATION OF LABYRINTH TYPES FROM ROCK-ENGRAVING FIGURES. (After Krause)
140. ALLEGORICAL LABYRINTH. (Old German Print)
141, 142. SEA-SIDE SAND MAZES. (W. H. M.)
143. TEMPORARY MAZE AT VILLAGE FETE. (W. H. M.)
144. MAZE TOY BY A. BRENTANO. (After Patent Specification)
145. MAZE TOY BY S. D. Nix. (After Patent Specification)
147. MAZE TOY BY J. PROCTOR. (After Patent Specification)
148. MAZE TOY BY H. BRIDGE. (After Patent Specification)
149, 150, 151. PATH OF RAT IN LABYRINTH. Three Stages. (After Szymanski)
CHAPTER I
Classical readings
Home
