Mazes and Labyrinths
"A maze requires no minotaur, it is its own minotaur." - Umberto Eco.
Here I explore the disambiguation of Mazes and Labyrinths, focusing on their place in history, culture, and the human psyche rather than the particulars of this one having choices and the other not. To dive into the particulars, see The difference between labyrinths and mazes.
Also, generally when we say Labyrinth we mean Maze. Even the mythical labyrinth of the minotaur sounds more like a maze. Plus labyrinth sounds cooler.
"There's no need to build a labyrinth when the entire universe is one." - [[!Jorge Luis Borges]]
Mazes and labyrinths can be many things
- Maze as a puzzle
- Maze as structure
- Maze as a trap / Labyrinth as a web
- Maze as a proving ground
- Mazes as a game
- Maze as a conversation
- The city as a labyrinth
- Labyrinth as death / Tomb mazes
- The mind as a maze (and by extension, insanity)
- Life as a labyrinth
- The universe as a maze
On mazes
- Mazes put the challenge up front. There is nothing new added after you step inside. But still surprising and different.