3A. Roman labyrinths, examples

 

In this section some examples of different types of Roman labyrinths will be shown, picked from the catalogue in the splendid book “Through the Labyrinth” of Hermann Kern (in English 2000, in German 1982). (If I am not permitted to bring those copies I shall withdraw this page).

 

 

Contents of figures (photos):

 

 

from YEAR

SIZE

ENTRANCE

CIRCUL.

WAVE

Fig. ra1: Tunisie H

ca. 300

Si42-8r17

bottom

anti-clock

8 B

Fig. ra2: Salzburg

275 – 300

Si37-11r13

right

clockwise

3 C

Fig. ra3: Alger

324

Si29-7ra11

bottom

anti-clock

1 D+2

Fig. ra4: Schweiz A

ca. 250

Ci14-4r5

low left corn

anti-clock

1 C

Fig. ra5: Rome Palatine

ca. 75

Pi19-9r5

top

clockwise

2 B

Fig. ra6: Schweiz F

200 – 225

Ci26-8r9

top left

clockwise

4 B

Fig. ra7: Srbija

ca. 300

Pi19-1

no entr /exit

 

2 C

Fig. ra8: Kypros, photo

4

Ci25-9r8

bottom

anti-clock

1 C

Fig. ra9: Kypros, drawing

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra10: Tunisie S

200 - 250

Si46-4r21

bottom

anti-clock

special

Fig. ra11: Pompeji

80 – 60 BC

Si34-8r13

top

anti-clock

3 C

Fig. ra12: Nîmes, Troja 2

ca. 100

Si16-2tr7

top

troja 2

troja 2

Fig. ra13: Wales, photo

ca. 200

Si31-5rw13

?

clockwise

3 C

Fig. ra14: Wales, drawing 1

my drawing

Si31-5rw13

 

 

 

Fig. ra15: Wales, drawing 2

my drawing

Si31-5rw13

 

 

 

Fig. ra16: Alger, drawing 1

my drawing

Si29-7ra11

 

 

 

Fig. ra17: roma-alger labyrinths, quadrant 2 – 4

my drawing

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra18: roma-alger labyrinths, quadrant 1

my drawing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roman labyrinths are mosaic floor labyrinths from villas and baths in the Roman Empire and many of them are square, and they are too small to be walked, (with exceptions). We shall here include also non-square forms.

In section 3 of this website the Roma-Piadena Labyrinth is analysed. It is a beautiful labyrinth and a smart type in its “turning of direction” in the 4’ quadrant to reach the goal in the centre. 4 examples of this type have been found (Piadena, Cremona, and 2 in Pompeii). In most other Roman labyrinths reaching the centre is obtained simple by adding an extra quadrant lane or radial lane adjacent to the entrance quadrant lane:

 

 

 

Fig. ra1: Tunisie H
Multiple lane simple labyrinth with Theseus and the Minotauros in the centre.

 

Fig. ra1: Tunisie H

Tunisia, Henchir el Faouar, dating ca. 300. Labyrinth mosaic floor is still in situ.

Si42-8r17, entrance: bottom, anti-clockwise, 8 waves B in-out, double quadrant lane entrance + goal out-in.

In this labyrinth each quadrant consists of many waves of wave form B, of 8 simple waves of 2 lanes. (Contrary to this: the Alger Labyrinth with 1 wave of many lanes, fig. ra3).

Entrance lane and the final goal lane are in the bottom of the drawing, and it is distinct that at the entrance quadrant there are 2 adjacent lanes and only 1 lane in the other 3 quadrants. Each quadrant starts at the centre and ends at the perimeter so to reach the centre goal an extra final radial quadrant lane is simply added, the usual system in roman labyrinths.

It is a big labyrinth of simple layout easy to comprehend. (A small cross line blocking the path at the top of the drawing should be disregarded).

 

Explanation: The labyrinth is Square with internal goal, 42 lanes in area or in cross section, 8 lanes centre area, roman, 17 lanes or 17 turns in each quadrant. Entrance is at the bottom of this drawing with upright centre figure (of Theseus killing the Minotauros), quadrant 1 is to the right of the entrance and then the labyrinth walker proceeds anti-clockwise to the next quadrant. The basic wave figure is B moving from the centre and out to the perimeter. To reach the goal in the centre a final extra lane is placed adjacent to the entrance lane taking the needed space from either quadrant 1 or 4 (or both).

 

 

 

Fig. ra2: Salzburg
Multiple lane labyrinth with Theseus and the Minotauros in the centre.

 

Fig. ra2: Salzburg

Austria, now Vienna Art Museum, originated near Salzburg, dating 275 – 300.

Si37-11r13, entrance: right, clockwise, 3 waves C in-out, double quadrant lane entrance + goal out-in.

The black lines are the walls, the red lines are the lanes = the path to be walked (= the Ariadne thread).

 

 

 

Fig. ra3: Alger
One of the oldest church labyrinths.

 

Fig. ra3: Alger

Algeria, Cathedral of Algiers, originated from the Basilica in Al Asnam founded 324.

Si29-7ra11, entrance: bottom, anti-clockwise, 1 wave D+2 in-out, double quadrant lane entrance + goal out-in.

The wave figure is D with the tip of the tong having further 2 turns as a spiral. (Contrary to this is the Tunisie H Labyrinth with many waves of 2 lanes, fig. ra1). This is the first Roman labyrinth to convey a Christian meaning (Kern says). The centre is a holy text written in a “labyrinthine manner”.

A system of Roma-Alger labyrinths are shown below in fig. ra16 - ra18.

 

 

 

Fig. ra4: Schweiz A
A circular labyrinth.

 

Fig. ra4: Schweiz A

Switzerland, Avenches, dating ca. 250.

Ci14-4r5, entrance: lower left corner, anti-clockwise, 1 wave C in-out, double quadrant radial lane entrance + goal out-in.

The centre picture shows (only) the horn of the Minotauros and Theseus’ dagger.

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra5: Rome Palatine
An octagonal labyrinth, to walk in.

 

Fig. ra5: Rome Palatine

Italy, Imperial Palace on the Palatine, dating ca. 75.

Pi19-9r5, entrance: top, clockwise, 2 waves B out-in, double final quadrant lane to goal in-out + out-in.

The 8 sided polygon labyrinth is 20 meters in width giving 1 meter wide lanes to be walked to get to a fountain in the centre.

 

 

 

Fig. ra6: Schweiz F
A circular labyrinth in 8 sections.

 

Fig. ra6: Schweiz F

Switzerland, Fribourg, dating 200 – 225.

Ci26-8r9, entrance: top left, clockwise, 4 waves B in-out in 8 sections, double radial lane entrance + goal out-in.

 

 

 

Fig. ra7: Srbija
A 6 sided labyrinth in 3 sections with no entrance and exit.

 

Fig. ra7: Srbija

Serbia, Gamzigrad, dating ca. 300.

Pi19-1, no entrance and no exit to goal, anti-clockwise if radial lane out-in, 2 waves C then in-out.

6 sided polygon with 3 sections.

 

 

 

Fig. ra8: Kypros
A circular labyrinth, combined spiral and wave.

 

Fig. ra8: Kypros, photo

Cyprus, Kato Paphos, dating year 4.

Drawing in the next figure, fig. ra9.

Ci25-9r8, entrance: bottom, anti-clockwise, 1 spiral + 1 wave C + 1 spiral out-in, only 3 radial quadrant lanes with no quadrant lane at the entrance side.

The lane to walk is with a twisted Ariadne thread.

 

 

Fig. ra9: Kypros, drawing of the photographed labyrinth in fig. ra8

 

Fig. ra9: Kypros, drawing

See fig. ra8 above with photo and text.

 

 

 

Fig. ra10: Tunisie S
A roman labyrinth with more advanced wave pattern.

 

Fig. ra10: Tunisie S

Tunisia, Sousse, dating 200 - 250

Si46-4r21, entrance: bottom, anti-clockwise, special wave figure: 2 B wave groups in-out of each 2 waves C out-in, double quadrant lane entrance + goal out-in.

A more advanced roman labyrinth.

 

 

 

Fig. ra11: Pompeji
A roma-piadena type labyrinth.

 

Fig. ra11: Pompeji

Italy, Pompeii, 80 – 60 BC

Si34-8r13, entrance: top, anti-clockwise, 3 waves C in-out, Piadena-model: quadrant 4 has turn of direction.

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra12: Nîmes,  a troja 2 type labyrinth

 

Fig. ra12: Nîmes, Troja 2

France, Nîmes, dating ca. 100.

Si16-2tr7, entrance: top, a troja 2 labyrinth modified to be square (modified more than slightly, compare to fig. tr8).

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra13: Wales, photo of an interesting special roma-piadena type labyrinth

 

Fig. ra13: Wales, photo

Wales, Caerleon on Usk, dating ca. 200.

Si31-5rw13, entrance?, clockwise, 3 waves C (in upper left quadrant), lower left quadrant is different.

This labyrinth has lost much of the 2 quadrants to the right. I have given 2 probable solutions to the missing part below in fig. ra14 and fig. ra15 (more solutions are possible).

The upper left quadrant is a usual roman labyrinth. The lower left quadrant is different - interesting different. Many experts on labyrinths will probably say that this quadrant has a mistake and should have the same design as the upper quadrant. But the quadrant is all right to walk – interesting to walk.

 

 

 

 

Fig. ra14: Wales, drawing 1 with estimate of the complete labyrinth of the photo fig. ra13

 

Fig. ra14: Wales, drawing 1

Guess on entrance and on quadrants to the right side, guess 1:

Entrance is at the bottom, quadrant 1 is “special”, quadrant 2 is “normal”, quadrant 3 fits with being = to quadrant 2. Quadrant 4 has to be special and here the “direction is turned” to reach the goal in the centre like in the Roma-Piadena labyrinth. Quadrant 4 “points” towards quadrant 3 with the same type of narrow, normal, and wide “tongs” as quadrant 1 point towards quadrant 4.

So the Romans had a smart mosaic labyrinth designer in Wales 1800 years ago.

 

 

Fig. ra15: Wales, drawing 2 with estimate of the complete labyrinth of the photo fig. ra13

 

Fig. ra15: Wales, drawing 2

Guess on entrance and on quadrants to the right side, guess 2:

Compared to fig. ra14 above I have here made a slight change in the centre part of quadrant 4.

In details C, D, E, and H the wave pattern is illustrated. Turning quadrant 2 in detail D 90° clockwise it is seen that the wave pattern is wave symbol C in fig. r1. Quadrant 1 in detail C is mirrored vertically. There is 1 C-wave + 1 B-wave + 1 C-wave with an extra “back splashing” tong. In quadrant 4 in detail E we see a “snake wave” waving as wave B like in wave symbol H in fig. r1, with a slight variation so it is a wave symbol K. In guess 1 (from fig. ra14 above) it is a different wave symbol K.

 

 

Fig. ra16: Alger, drawing of photo in fig.ra3

 

Fig. ra16: Alger, drawing 1

Algeria, Cathedral of Algiers, from fig. ra3. The labyrinth is here turned 180°, to comply with the other roma labyrinths in section 4 of this website. The needed area for the extra quadrant lane at the end to get to the goal in the centre is obtained by squeezing quadrant 1 with the entrance lane. In detail C there is shown the wave figure of all 4 quadrants, and in wave symbol D of fig. r1 the tong needs to continue in another 2 turns, so we have 1 wave D+2 in each quadrant. A system of roma-alger labyrinths can be made with just 1 wave in each quadrant, as shown in fig. ra17 – ra18 below.

 

 

 

Fig. ra17: roma-alger labyrinth system, quadrants

 

Fig. ra17: roma-alger labyrinths, quadrant 2 – 4

 

 

 

Fig. ra18: roma-alger labyrinth system, entrance quadrant

 

 

Fig. ra18: roma-alger labyrinths, quadrant 1

By squeezing quadrant 2 in detail A it is shown how to get quadrant 1, the entrance quadrant, in detail C, to make the whole labyrinth Si11-1ra5 in detail J.

Likewise the entrance quadrant in M is made from quadrant 2 in K.

The smallest roma-alger labyrinth is Si7-1ra3 in detail S.

 

 

To summary

To section 4 roma labyrinths