Labyrinths: Mysteries and Methods
Roger Burrows

Proceedings of Bridges 2020: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture
Pages 345–352
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Abstract

This paper presents an introduction to five ways of constructing labyrinths. The first is based on a ‘shift’ method that was apparently used by the Nazca people of Peru to construct spirals. The second is a ‘key’ method that combines turn points and guidelines that was evidently used to construct Neolithic labyrinths and, possibly, the labyrinths of medieval cathedrals. The third was first seen on Babylonian clay tablets where labyrinths were designed upon ‘grids.’ The fourth method is that of ‘modular’ tiles based on combination games. The fifth method is that of ‘switch’ tiles based on a concept proposed by Fenyvesi, et al. (2013). In addition, three types of three-dimensional labyrinths are illustrated.

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