Amazing? What is a labyrinth?

monster · 10-07-2010, 10:28 AM

Walking at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens this morning, my friend and I happened across the "new walking labyrith". At first we saw signs for it and were all excited, and as we followed the signs for it, we postulated about it having legs and walking away from us as fast as we were walking towards it..... and then we found it. And son, we were disappoint.

It was a circle with a spiral path to the centre. The turns of the spiral were separated by two-inch-high grass. We could see all the way across the twenty-foot or so labyrith. We were invited by a sign to "traverse" it (language nazi says argh!) by walking slowly and contemplating inner peace (yes, it is Ann Arbor, what made you ask?)

No dead ends, no choices, no wrong decisions to be made, no anticipation of where the path might lead.....

So I googled labyrinth when I got home and found this:

Quote:

Labyrinths and mazes have often been confused. When most people hear of a labyrinth they think of a maze. A labyrinth is not a maze. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into the maze and out.

A labyrinth has only one path. It is unicursal. The way in is the way out. There are no blind alleys. The path leads you on a circuitous path to the center and out again.

from here

So then I pulled out my Shorter Oxford, which made no mention of this alternate/original meaning:

1) A structure consisting of a complex network of tunnels, paths, etc. through which it is difficult to find one's way, a maze.....
2) A complex or confusing situation
3) (anatomical along that theme)
4) (engineering/electonical along that theme)

So I checked with the source of all that is true, Wikipedia, which has both meanings.

To my mind, they are mutually exclusive ideas. Maybe that makes labyrinth an autoantonym. Can nouns be autoantonyms? I guess this should be in the philosophy or nothing forum, but it isn't so there.

So which definition do you support -Maze, or Unicursal Path? Or Autoantonym?

Discuss. If you feel like it and/or have work to avoid...

glatt · 10-07-2010, 10:32 AM

Maze. Otherwise how could Icarus and his dad have been lost in one for so long?

monster · 10-07-2010, 10:33 AM

And Theseus wouldn't have needed the string....

Shawnee123 · 10-07-2010, 10:38 AM

And where would the Minotaur exist except at the center of the Cretan Labyrinth?

(edit: what monster said)

monster · 10-07-2010, 10:42 AM

but but but, that single path thing is ancient too.

Spexxvet · 10-07-2010, 10:51 AM

It's a movie

Shawnee123 · 10-07-2010, 10:58 AM

Ugh, is that what you call that production, a movie?

Clodfobble · 10-07-2010, 12:36 PM

In common usage I would assume labyrinth = maze.

However, I have been to the type that you are talking about as well, also specifically called a "walking labyrinth." The path delineations were made with small rocks, the whole area was no more than about 30 feet on a side, and you were supposed to simply walk to the center and out again while meditating. We were given a little candle to hold too, and told to focus our eyes on the flame, letting our feet "find" the way on their own (not our peripheral vision, no, it was our feet sensing the energy of the path or whatever nonsense...)

Anyway, it ended up being a very nice and calming little experience. Same as any other kind of meditation activity I guess.

Gravdigr · 10-07-2010, 02:23 PM

You call it labyrinth, we call it maze.

skysidhe · 10-07-2010, 04:40 PM

Uni circle. I know because my days are spent walking in circles and coming out at the same place.

Fun links with downloads.
virtual labyrinth.http://labyrinthsociety.org/flash/labyrinth.htm

The labyrinth societyhttp://labyrinthsociety.org/virtual-labyrinth-walk

xoxoxoBruce · 10-07-2010, 04:52 PM

I always equated the two, until a few months ago I saw what you described, with an explanation like you gave, of the difference. I just accepted it, probably because I hadn't experienced the anticipation and disappointment you did.

skysidhe · 10-07-2010, 04:57 PM

Monster, maybe you can find a corn field maze for Halloween. After seeing Jeepers Creepers, that is.

HungLikeJesus · 10-07-2010, 08:32 PM

I thought a labyrinth was part of the female genitalia.

Pete Zicato · 10-07-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

And Theseus wouldn't have needed the string....

Exactly!!!

HungLikeJesus · 10-07-2010, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

And Theseus wouldn't have needed the string....

Isn't that a book for looking up words that are like other words?

View Poll Results: A Labyrinth is
A Maze	15	78.95%
A Unicursal Path	3	15.79%
An Autoantonym	1	5.26%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

10-07-2010, 10:33 AM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	And Theseus wouldn't have needed the string.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-07-2010, 10:38 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	And where would the Minotaur exist except at the center of the Cretan Labyrinth? (edit: what monster said) __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-07-2010, 10:42 AM	#5
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	but but but, that single path thing is ancient too. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-07-2010, 10:51 AM	#6
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	It's a movie __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

10-07-2010, 10:32 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Maze. Otherwise how could Icarus and his dad have been lost in one for so long?

10-07-2010, 10:58 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Ugh, is that what you call that production, a movie? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-07-2010, 12:36 PM	#8
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	In common usage I would assume labyrinth = maze. However, I have been to the type that you are talking about as well, also specifically called a "walking labyrinth." The path delineations were made with small rocks, the whole area was no more than about 30 feet on a side, and you were supposed to simply walk to the center and out again while meditating. We were given a little candle to hold too, and told to focus our eyes on the flame, letting our feet "find" the way on their own (not our peripheral vision, no, it was our feet sensing the energy of the path or whatever nonsense...) Anyway, it ended up being a very nice and calming little experience. Same as any other kind of meditation activity I guess. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-07-2010, 02:23 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	You call it labyrinth, we call it maze. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

10-07-2010, 04:40 PM	#10
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Uni circle. I know because my days are spent walking in circles and coming out at the same place. Fun links with downloads. virtual labyrinth.http://labyrinthsociety.org/flash/labyrinth.htm The labyrinth societyhttp://labyrinthsociety.org/virtual-labyrinth-walk

10-07-2010, 04:52 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I always equated the two, until a few months ago I saw what you described, with an explanation like you gave, of the difference. I just accepted it, probably because I hadn't experienced the anticipation and disappointment you did. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-07-2010, 04:57 PM	#12
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Monster, maybe you can find a corn field maze for Halloween. After seeing Jeepers Creepers, that is.

10-07-2010, 08:32 PM	#13
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I thought a labyrinth was part of the female genitalia. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

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