In these cultures-and many others-the labyrinth conveyed ideas about a meandering. In remarkably similar form, mazes and labyrinths can be found on artifacts from the ancient world from the Bronze Age in Spain, to Ireland and India from North Africa to the American Southwest. Photo by Tilemahos Efthimiadis., perhaps obstacle-filled, journey towards enlightenment. “It is a confusing path, hard to follow without a thread, but, provided not devoured at the midpoint, it leads surely, despite twists and turns, back to the beginning.” - Plato Coins from Knossos with depiction of labyrinth, c. The word “labyrinth” may date as far back as the 14th century, and derives from the Latin labyrinthus and the Greek labýrinthos, or, a building with intricate passages.

The word “maze” dates from the 13th century and comes from the Middle English word mæs, denoting delirium or delusion. While labyrinths are often seen as thoughtful, peaceful spaces for quiet reflection, mazes tend to attract those more interested in solving puzzles and facing challenges. Two-dimensional mazes offer the ability to see the entire course at one time, though the hardest ones will take time to solve. Often there are puzzles that help you find your way and alleviate frustration, but the idea is to get lost a few times before figuring out the terrain and finding your way.

Often the labyrinth is purposefully engineered so that it takes a long time to get to the middle, encouraging slow, meditative contemplation while navigating many twists and turns.Ī maze is filled with dead ends. Walking through a labyrinth, you will change direction often, but theoretically should not feel lost or confused as you wind through the space. Labyrinth MazeĪ labyrinth has winding, curved passages, forming a “unicursal,” or one-way path from the outside toward the center. Though the words are often used interchangeably, the answer is no. What exactly is a maze? What have mazes been used for throughout history? How have mazes been used in pop culture? Is a labyrinth the same thing as a maze?

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