After the discovery of the “true” meander we will now come to the meander technique. What should this be?
In previous articles I have shown how one can generate a labyrinth from different meanders. The result were partly already known labyrinth types, but also up to now unknown types.
The mostly known 7 circuit classical labyrinth is generated from the also well-known seed pattern. Most of the historical labyrinths with one axis have probably been constructed the same way. One could call this procedure the seed pattern method.
However, a 7 circuit classical labyrinth can also be generated from two joined meanders of the type 4. If I now make a row of more meanders, I can derive a line sequence from it and produce a labyrinth. I would like to call this the meander technique.
From 1 meander of the type 4 I will obtain a 3 circuit labyrinth with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4.
A 3 circuit meander labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 3 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 3 circuit Knidos labyrinth or 3 circuit meander labyrinth or Knossos labyrinth.
I could add: with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4.
In the catalogue of Andreas Frei this type is called “Knossos“.
From 2 meanders of the type 4 I will obtain a 7 circuit labyrinth with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8.
A 7 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 7 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 7 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
It is the oldest and most widespread labyrinth and also known as Cretan labyrinth.
I could add: with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8.
In the catalogue of Andreas Frei this type is called “Das Kretische“.
From 3 meanders of the type 4 I will obtain a 11 circuit labyrinth with 6 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8-11-10-9-12.
A 11 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 11 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 11 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
The design for this labyrinth is known from a script from 868 AC and generally called type Otfrid.
I could add: with 6 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8-11-10-9-12.
In the catalogue of Andreas Frei this type is called “Otfrid“.
From 4 meanders of the type 4 I will obtain a 15 circuit labyrinth with 8 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8-11-10-9-12-15-14-13-16.
A 15 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 15 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 15 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
I could add: with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8-11-10-9-12-15-14-13-16.
This labyrinth is historically unknown as far as I know, thus a new type.
The series could be continued and I would get nothing but new labyrinths.
The principle might be clear: I attach a meander more and will get four more circuits (if I have type 4).
The rules: Each meander has 2 turning points. The number of the circuits results in the formula: C = (a x b) – 1. C stand for the number of circuits, a for the number of meanders, and b is the number of the type.
We apply this now to type 6 and look at the labyrinths generated from it.
From 1 meander of the type 6 I will obtain a 5 circuit labyrinth with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6.
A 5 circuit meander labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 5 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 5 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
I could add: with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6.
This labyrinth is historically unknown as far as I know, thus a new type.
From 2 meanders of the type 6 I will obtain a 11 circuit labyrinth with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6-11-8-9-10-7-12.
A 11 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 11 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 11 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
It corresponds to the 11 circuit classical labyrinth that can be generated from the enlarged seed pattern and forms the basis of most historical Troy Towns. However, there it has a smaller middle.
I could add: with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6-11-8-9-10-7-12.
In the catalogue of Andreas Frei this type is called “Hesselager“.
From 3 meanders of the type 6 I will obtain a 17 circuit labyrinth with 6 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6-11-8-9-10-7-12-17-14-15-16-13-18.
A 17 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 17 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 17 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
I could add: with 6 turning points and the path sequence 0-5-2-3-4-1-6-11-8-9-10-7-12-17-14-15-16-13-18.
This labyrinth is historically unknown as far as I know, thus a new type.
Also here I could continue. However, that would generate only gigantic and “unwieldy” labyrinths.
We rather go to type 8.
From 1 meander of the type 8 I will obtain a 7 circuit labyrinth with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-7-2-5-4-3-6-1-8.
A 7 circuit meander labyrinth
I can call the labyrinth: 7 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or a 7 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
I could add: with 2 turning points and the path sequence 0-7-2-5-4-3-6-1-8.
This labyrinth is historically unknown as far as I know, thus a new type.
From 2 meanders of the type 8 I will obtain a 15 circuit labyrinth with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-7-2-5-4-3-6-1-8-15-10-13-12-11-14-9-16.
A 15 circuit Knidos labyrinth
I can name the labyrinth: 15 circuit classical labyrinth with a larger center or 15 circuit Knidos labyrinth.
It corresponds to the 15 circuit classical labyrinth that can be generated from the enlarged seed pattern and forms the basis of some historical Troy Towns. However, there it has a smaller middle.
I could add: with 4 turning points and the path sequence 0-7-2-5-4-3-6-1-8-15-10-13-12-11-14-9-16.
In the catalogue of Andreas Frei this type is called “Tibble“.
From 3 meanders of the type 8 we will obtain 23 circuits in accord with the formula: (3 multiplied by 8) minus 1 = 23 circuits with 6 turning points. This we save.
We will get with this method which I would like to call meander technique, known as well as up to now unknown labyrinth types.
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Thank you, Andreas
I had prepared part 2 with the combinations you proposed.
And I found the Löwenstein variations on your website and mentioned it before your comment.
But thank you for being so exact.
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Pingback: How to draw / build a Labyrinth with Meander Technique, Part 2 « blogmymaze
It is also possible to combine different types of meanders, e.g. type 4 with type 6 (labyrinth Löwenstein 9a, 9b). Or you may combine meanders with serpentines (Löwenstein 5a, 5b; Cakra-vyuh). It is furthermore possible to combine the meanders not by using a circuit between them but to directly connect them along the axis (St. Gallen, Gossembrot 53).
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