The Genesis and Geometry of the Labyrinth: Architecture Hidden Language Myths and Rituals

A groundbreaking look at the phenomenon of the labyrinth, connecting this ancient symbol to modern scientific principles. • Illustrated with labyrinths from around the world and throughout history. • Demonstrates how the labyrinth differs from a maze and how it is a tool for interpreting ancient myths and religious beliefs. • Draws parallels between the labyrinth and quantum physics, showing how through the secrets of the labyrinth we can unlock the mystery of life itself. The powerful symbol of the labyrinth exists in countless cultures spanning the globe from Africa and ancient Greece to India, China, and pre-Colombian North and South America. For centuries they have been used for religious rituals, meditation, and spiritual and physical healing. In the labyrinth humanity finds a model of the quintessential sacred space that depicts the most profound levels of consciousness. Its center is regarded in many cultures as a door between two worlds, thus providing individuals with the ideal place for self questioning and meditation. In a comprehensive exploration of this time-honored symbol, Patrick Conty shows how the geometrical construction of the ancient labyrinth corresponds exactly with today's modern geometry, illustrating that recent developments in math and physics parallel the science of ancient civilizations. By looking at the way the two systems complement each other, Conty draws new conclusions about the ancient world and how that world can benefit us right now. Conty explores not only physical labyrinths but also reveals how the same transcendent principles are at work in Celtic knot work; the designs of ancient Chinese cauldrons; the tattoos and tracings of primitive art; the textiles of Africa, Peru, and Central America; and the geometric patterns in Islamic art.

Table of Contents:
Preface Part 1: The Enigma 1. The Götland Labyrinth 2. The Enigma 3. The Labyrinth Is Not a Maze 4. The Trace of the Ritual 5. The Equation and Its Solution 6. The Bound Universe and the Eternal Return 7. The Woven Myth Part 2: The Solution 8. The Malekula Ritual and the Story of Aneas 9. The Living and the Dead 10. A Puzzle of Myths 11. The Malekula Nahals 12. The Temple as a Knot 13. About Knots 14. The Origin of Language in Dogon Myth 15. The Hidden Language of Nature Part 3: The Geometry of the Labyrinth 16. The Ball of Thread and Ariadne's Technique 17. The Geometric Crossing 18. Time 19. Axis and Center 20. The Hopi Labyrinths Part 4: The Maze 21. The Concept of the Maze 22. Why a Four-Dimensional Knot? 23. The Equivalence of Samsara and Nirvana 24. Different Aspects of Reality 25. The Cord 26. Labyrinths within Labyrinths Part 5: Images of the Labyrinth 27. The Image, the Whole, and the Changing Aspect 28. Gestalt 29. The Tennis Ball and the Path of the Grandmother 30. The Book of Durrow: the Reversal 31. The Labyrinth in Painting 32. A Labyrinth Practice 33. Structuralism and Contemplation 34. Now What? Part 6: Myth and Meaning 35. Meaning and the Mythic Path 36. The Crossing of Codes Evokes Space 37. Physics, Anthropology and the Continuous Whole 38. Circumambulation and Revelation 39. Cretan Seals and the Art of the Whole. Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Patrick Conty is a painter who has been researching labyrinths for more than thirty years. He lives in France.

Review :
"Patrick Conty's fascinating study brings us face to face with the enigma of unity and reminds us that its most archaic expression--the labyrinth--begins and ends in ourselves." "Not only the most recent book to discuss this intriguing subject, but among its most clear and penetrating examinations." "This book invites readers to explore the ultimate patterns of the universe."