To anyone reading the Myth Mondays, it should come as no surprise that today's word is labyrinth. For many of you, the word labyrinth is obvious, it's a sort of geometric maze, but for others, the exotic word may be new. In Greek mythology, Daedalus built the labyrinth as a complex, escape-proof, roofless building with confusing passages that hid the Minotaur. When the tribute from Athens arrived, the 7 youths and 7 maidens who were put in the labyrinth would either face starvation from an inability to find their way out or be eaten by the Minotaur.
When my fellow classmates and I learned the word at school, at about age 10, we were given a hands-on task to understand the labyrinth more fully. We were given a sheet of paper with a black and white maze printed on it and a mirror. Our instructions were to look into the mirror and trace our way from start to finish. Since the view was mirrored, it was quite a challenge and gave us some sympathy for the mythological victims of the Minotaur.
The word labyrinth may be related to a term for a double axe, the labrys, which is not a Greek, but Lydian word, according to the Oxford Classical Dictionary. The double axe was a religious symbol for the Minoans, the people who lived on Crete at the time of the famous adventure of Theseus in the labyrinth. It is suggested that the entire palace complex of Cnossos was called the Labyrinth or House of the Double Axe.
In Harry Potter's Goblet of Fire, there is a labyrinth as the final task the 4 challengers faced. The challengers were given flares to set off should they need rescue.
References:
- George M. A. Hanfmann , B. C. Dietrich "Labyrinth" The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth. © Oxford University Press 1949, 1970, 1996, 2005.
- "The Double Axe and the Labyrinth," by W. H. D. Rouse. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 21, (1901), pp. 268-274.
- "Labyrinth or Troy Town?" by John L. Heller. The Classical Journal, Vol. 42, No. 3 (Dec., 1946), pp. 122-139
Labyrinth Mold Photo CC Flickr User BotheredByBees.
Comments
Golden Goblet? LOL. You mean Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, right?
On FB today Mithridates Eupator draws our attention to this timely article from The Independent.
Interesting article about interlocking tunnels at Gortyn. Thanks, Bingley.
The Labyrinth was constructed by Daedalus, and he was skillful craftsman, not unlike Hephaestus, and maybe the labrys was something like the sign of the Great Master? (Axe often is used as a symbol of divine smiths and gods of thunder)