Classical Mazes

Classical Mazes are so called because some of the earliest datable mazes of this type date from the time of the Ancient Greeks. They are also sometimes known as Cretan Labyrinths because they occur on coins from Knossos. A graffito of this type in Pompeii was captioned labyrintus id est domus Dedali about two thousand years ago. A Classical Maze had only one path and was constructed by following a set of rules which could make a myriad different designs. Physical walls were not needed because it was impossible to get lost in these mazes. A Classical Maze drawing does not look much like the Labyrinth described in the Ancient Greek Theseus myth. However, both the description in the myth and these strange drawings are symbols of the same religious mystery, whatever that was.

Classical Mazes occur in many different designs but all result from a single method of construction. Several versions of the construction method were used, and they gave rise to different styles of Classical Maze. Compare this with handwriting, which can be used to write many different things (analogous to different designs), and a single sentence can be written in different hands (analogous to different styles).