Labyrinth (Concept)
conceptThe Labyrinth was the maze built by Daedalus beneath Knossos to contain the Minotaur — its name became the word for any complex, confusing structure.
The Myth
Daedalus designed the Labyrinth so cunningly that even he could barely escape it. The word may derive from labrys, the Minoan double-axe symbol found throughout Knossos. The Labyrinth had one entrance but branched endlessly within. No one who entered could find the way out — until Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of thread to unwind as he went. The concept of the labyrinth persisted through medieval cathedral floor labyrinths (for contemplative walking) to modern hedge mazes and metaphorical uses.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The medical term "labyrinthitis" (inner ear inflammation) takes its name from this maze — the inner ear's structure was called a labyrinth by anatomists.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Ariadne
heroDaughter of King Minos who fell in love with Theseus and gave him the thread that allowed him to...
Daedalus
heroThe greatest inventor and craftsman of Greek mythology. Daedalus built the Labyrinth, crafted wings...
Knossos
placeKnossos was the vast Bronze Age palace complex in Crete — seat of King Minos and the mythological...
Labyrinth
placeAn impossibly complex maze built beneath the palace of Knossos on Crete by the master craftsman...
Theseus
heroThe hero who navigated the Labyrinth, slew the Minotaur, and became the legendary king of Athens....
Aegis
conceptThe aegis was a divine shield or breastplate belonging to Zeus and wielded by Athena, fringed with...