From Crete to Hogwarts: 7 Famous Mazes in Literature

May 25, 2023

Today we explore the fascinating world of mazes in literature. From the ancient labyrinth of Crete to the magical maze of Hogwarts, mazes have captured the imagination of readers for centuries. In this post, we'll take a closer look at seven famous mazes in literature and the stories behind them. Let's explore the twists and turns of these literary labyrinths.

7 Famous Mazes in Literature:

1. Greek Mythology (AMZN): All discussions of mazes in literature must start in Greece. The ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur took place in a labyrinth. King Minos was upset because his son, Androgeus, did so well at the Pan-Athenian games, he was assassinated. He sent his fleet to Athens, and demanded the assassins be turned over, but nobody knew who did it. Theseus volunteered to go to Crete as one of the sacrifices to the Minotaur. The king's daughter (Ariadne) fell in love with Theseus and gave him a clue to the labyrinth so that he would succeed, which of course he did. In addition to books the story has been made into movies and graphic novels.

Theseus and the minotaur comic book cover

2. The Maze Runner (AMZN): The Maze Runner series by James Dashner starts with an elevator bringing a teenage boy to the middle of plain surrounded by a very high walls. We soon learn that the walls actually house a massive maze, which a group of trapped teenage boys must escape. The maze is filled with dangerous creatures and constantly changing walls and serves as the central plot device in the story first part of the series. The movies have some of the best maze themed movie posters.

3. The Shining (AMZN): I consider this the best maze movie of all time, directed by the great Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson. The book was released in 1977 it was written by the great Stephen King, giving him his first major bestseller. The story features a hedge maze at the end that serves to increase the panic of the characters and the suspense for the audience.

4. Jorge Luis Borges' works (AMZN): Jorge Luis Borges, a blind Argentinian librarian, is known for his mind-bending micro-fictions that play with the concept of mazes and he probably deserves his own blog post on the topic. He chose Labyrinths as the descriptive title for this English-language selection of his best stories and essays, where he imagines tortuous labyrinths, metafictional labyrinths, and a vast labyrinth without walls; ‘The Library of Babel’ presents a maze-like universe, and ‘The Garden of Forking Paths’ imagines infinitely dividing parallel universes. I also like the use a mirror maze on his Labyrinth book cover:

5. The Palace of Laughter (AMZN): I knew I just had to include a book for children. Written by Jon Berkeley, The Palace of Laughter is a children's book about a boy named Miles Wednesday who enters a magical world called Eldritch City. In Eldritch City, there is a maze that is said to lead to a palace of laughter. Miles and his friends must navigate the maze to find the palace and save the city from an evil ruler. Good news - if you enjoy the book it i spart 1 in a series of 3 !

6. House of Leaves (AMZN): Written by Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves is a horror novel that tells the story of a family who moves into a house that is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. The house contains a maze-like structure that is constantly changing and growing, and the characters must navigate it to uncover the secrets of the house. I like that the book cover is a mix of maze imagery with the spiral shell.

7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (AMZN). By J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. The novel begins with Harry having a dream about the murder of a Muggle by Voldemort. Harry, Ron, and Hermione then return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their fourth year. Harry's name is mysteriously entered into the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous competition between three wizarding schools. And one of those challenges is the Triwizard maze. As Harry competes in the tournament, he discovers a plot to bring Voldemort back to power. The book is filled with action, adventure, and mystery as Harry and his friends try to uncover the truth and stop Voldemort's return.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book cover

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie poster

The books above were written over many centuries and many have been adapted into successful movies. Whether you're a fan of ancient mythology or modern literature, there's no denying the allure of a good maze. So the next time you find yourself lost in a book, remember the twists and turns of these literary labyrinths and enjoy the journey.

You may also like:

THE BEST BOOKS ABOUT MAZES AND LABYRINTHS (THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY MAZE BOOKS)

5 BOOKS ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF LABYRINTHS

Maze Construction - 5 Maze Design Decisions Make All the Difference

May 24, 2023

I’ve taken the time to look at 40 different maze constructions, giving you step by step Instructions on how to make each type. I had a fun time with the project but wanted to expand on the subject with a more detailed look at what the key differences are between each type. Also, in my old job I spent like 90% of my time making spreadsheets and this is a perfect time to break one out ! No V or XLOOKUPS though.

First let’s define a few common maze terms:

Start - Where you begin a maze from.
Goal - Where you need to arrive at to properly solve the maze.
Wall - The portion of the maze that creates uncross-able boundaries
Pathway / Paths - What you travel along in the maze to solve it, typically the place between walls
Outline - The outer wall of the maze or border. Can be a simple shape or something more complex like a picture.

So what are the key items that set the Maze constructions apart from one another ? I believe there are 5.

5 Maze Design Decisions that Differentiate Maze Constructions:

Where the maze starts
What type of pathways/walls the maze uses
Does the maze have an outline
Are there any conditions you need to follow to solve it
What is the purpose/goal of the maze

While there are other things that differentiate between mazes, these are the core 5 items. Let’s take a look at each one with some examples.

Where the Maze Starts
I believe there are 5 categories of how you might start a maze:

Border Start
Internal Start
Undefined location
Multiple locations
Specialty options

I would say that most mazes start at the border of the maze on the outside of the main maze structure. Essentially at the border you find an Arrow directing you into the structure or the word Start. But, there are more options. The internal start is the next most common. Escape mazes, by definition start inside the maze, but Arrow Mazes and Slide Arrow Mazes also start internally within the maze border. Block Arrow Mazes. Number Mazes, and Letter Mazes can also start internally depending on how you structure your maze. The third main start is the undefined start, usually with an undefined goal, meaning the start is either not known to you or it is selectable. A good example is the Dual Entrance/Exit Maze where you select the direction you wish to solve the maze in. While a Start/Goal type Arrow Maze gives you 2 options and you need to discover which is the start and which is the goal ! Finally we have 2 special cases, the Line Leads Maze where the start is a variety of multiple options, and the Pipe Maze construction where the start is the faucet handle (not really internal or border, but kind of both). Read about 9 common Options for Starting and Ending a Maze.

Here are examples of each type:

Ohio state maze — Start at the **border** of the maze

dual emtrance maze — **Undefined Start** - You choose the start and the goal

arrow maze — **Undefined Start** - Start / Goal Arrow Maze - You determine which is which !!

Ohio state shaped pipe maze — **Specialty Start -** Faucet Start

Line leads spider maze — **Multiple starting options** - Line Leads Maze

What type of Paths/Walls it Uses

I believe there are 5 categories of how you might construct pathways and walls:

Walled Pathway
Gridded Specialty
Grid Walls
On line Pathway
Specialty pathways

The paths are integral in the construction of any maze. The thing about paths is they are created usually by drawing walls. They really don’t exist without the other. The maze you are picturing in your head is probably the most popular pathway, the walled path, typically a line. Those lines create walls that you travel between. The next most popular pathway is the gridded specialty structure. It encompasses all of the maze types that use box grids to house the maze. Think of Arrow, Slide Arrow, Number, Letter and Puzzle Mazes. Each uses a grid pattern to house specialty symbols/items that dictate how you may move. Finally, the standard grid wall structure. A regular grid wall structure allows movement in a more typical way, through cuts in the walls to create a pathway. The last common pathway is the on line pathway. In this type you travel on the line, so that there are no walls. This exists for On-Line, Line Leads, Conditional Path, and Directional Mazes. The last group are a variety of specialty paths each unique to 1 or 2 maze types. 2 specialty paths share the common design of weaving, the Pipe maze and the Weaving maze., each which allow the solver to move over and under the other pathways! Additional specialty mazes include Pattern Mazes which will vary in their pathways based on the pattern you are mazing. Object Mazes use objects for walls, creating unique pathways. Draw and Cut mazes are similar in that the pathways reflect whatever is is you have drawn. For additional reading, I did a blog post about the 12 most common pathway types: Maze Pathway options.

Let’s look at some examples for each:

Pipes Ohio maze — **Specialty Path -** Weaving

Smile maze — **Specialty Path -** Weaving

Ohio names maze — **Specialty Pathway** - Objects (words in this case)

Square cut maze — **Specialty Pathway** - Draw and Cut

Does the Maze Have an Outline

As far as constructions go this is pretty simple because it is a Yes/No answer. Bordered mazes are the standard with defined outer edges common to determine the shape and size of the solvable maze. However, some mazes have less structure. Think about a Weaving Maze and a Pipe Maze. Neither has a defined border as you travel in pathways which create the structure of the maze. Non-bordered mazes are also easy to see with Line Leads Mazes, where the squiggly lines make the structure chaotic. Some Mazes have defined structures, but no real border like a Math maze. You could make a math maze in a defined bordered structure, but it is not pertinent to solving.

Are there any Conditions you need to follow to solve it

Most mazes are rather straightforward in how they are solved, but there can be a LOT of variety in the conditions. So the answer is either Yes or No, but the Yes has a huge amount of different conditions ! Let’s start with a standard maze which has No conditions to solving. The solver enters the maze, travels in it, then exits at the goal. That is the normal flow of most mazes. But sometimes there are conditions. A common clue is that if the maze comes with directions it is most likely conditional. Let’s look at a few: Solve the Puzzle to Move can describe many conditional mazes generally like a Block Move Maze. A Block Move Maze requires you to find a path between the start and goal by finding and moving the appropriate blocks to create a path. There are rules on how those blocks may move. A Puzzle Maze requires you to solve the puzzle to move correctly. A Number Maze requires you to choose the correct given numbers to move correctly. Same for a Letter Maze. A Conditional Path maze is by definition part of this as the puzzle you need to solve determines your movement. Likewise a Directional Maze (like a left turn only maze). Next is the Non Repeating Path condition. This is commonly used in a Find Items Maze and a Go & Return Maze. Each or these maze constructions require you to visit places in the maze before exiting, but the path you take may not backtrack from the way you came. Finally there is the Allowable Movement maze types. For me this includes Arrow Mazes and Slide Arrow mazes where movement thru the maze includes options on WHERE to go, but not HOW you may move. For more examples check out my blog on the 11 most common conditions: Conditional Pathway options

Let’s look at some examples:

Go and Return Ohio maze — **Non-repeating Path**

What is the purpose/goal of the maze

I believe there are 5 categories for the purpose of a maze

Reach the Goal
Escape the Maze
Solve a Puzzle
Specialty purposes
Unsolvable mazes

This answers the question - What are you trying to do in order to solve the maze ? The most basic purpose of a maze is also the most common, to reach the goal. While you may think this is the case for all mazes, here are a few other options: Escape the maze - this is of course used for the Escape Maze, where you start inside the maze and your goal is to escape the outer border. There are also instances where the purpose of the maze is to Solve a Puzzle. This includes a Hidden Trail Message Maze where the act of solving the maze creates a message for the solver. It also includes the Find Items Maze type where reaching the goal is only half of correctly solving the maze, you must also find certain items along the way ! Finally there are some Specialty purposes that only apply to 1 or 2 maze types per instance. Like the Math Maze whose purpose isn’t really to reach the goal or solve the puzzle, but you do each in order to learn mathematics ! And there is the specialty maze that should be used only for April Fool’s Day, the Unsolvable Maze. Or you made a mistake when you designed it, oops.

Hidden Trail Maze — **Solve a Puzzle** - Hidden Message Trail Maze

Hidden message maze — **Specialty** - Hidden Message Maze

So these are my 5 Maze Design Decisions that Differentiate Maze Constructions with examples. I have taken the time to summarize each of the 40 maze constructions based on these 5 criteria. Check out the chart below. Yellow highlights are on things that are not typical for a particular category.

Of the 40 mazes construction types, if we select the most common type for each of the 5 most common characteristics how many maze types are included ? So this would mean a maze that:

Starts at the border
Has walled pathways
Has an outline
Is NOT conditional to solve
And whose purpose is simply to reach the goal

That leaves us with 12 closely related mazes out of 40. And, if we wanted to add a 6th differentiator, the differences between these 12 mazes are generally HOW the walls/pathways are drawn. Happy maze designing !

The Art of Mazes: A Collection of AI Created Mazes and Labyrinths - Part 2

May 23, 2023

In Part 1 of this series I exclusively used StarryAI to create over 30 maze and labyrinth images. Today, in Part 2 I will use 5 other AI text to image generators to create a variety of interesting images of mazes and labyrinths.

For all images I include the Al text to image generator I used and prompt that I used. I hope you enjoy the creations and they inspire your own creations!

AI Image Generator - A labyrinth designed by Piet Mondrian in his traditional bright red bright yellow and bright blue colors

Not quite what I was looking for, but I like the way it came out anyway.

Craiyon - Fantasy labyrinth by MC Escher

A tried and true prompt I like to use for labyrinths, MC Escher. Not what I expected but nice to look at anyway.

Craiyon - A maze made of pipes

I love pipe mazes. I love to make them and have considered making a full book of 100 of them for Amazon. Maybe someday. Until then I get to create them here. Interesting that the pipes are green.

Craiyon - A maze made of numbers and letters from many different alphabets

The output looks like letters from an Asian alphabet or two, possibly Korean...maybe a speaker of Korean sees something interesting here ? Either way, htis concept of making walls out of letters is one that could be cool. Also a hidden message maze would be cool.

Dream by Wombo - a maze inside a maze inside a maze spectral style

I wonder about the building or tent (what is it?) in the background. What could be in there that needs just a large labyrinth to protect it ?

Dream by Wombo - a maze inside a maze inside a maze steampunk style

When you find a prompt that works, tweak it a bit and keep going. I wanted this to be more steam-punky if that makes sense to you and less like a painting. I think with some work this prompt could be epic.

Dream by Wombo - a maze inside a maze inside a maze surreal style

3 in a row and the best of the 3. That labyrinth goes on for miles and miles into the landscape.

Dream by Wombo - middle ages labyrinth in a city

At first I thought there were 3 labyrinths but this is designed as 1. This is on the outskirts of the city in the background on the right. Imagine this as the main plaza in a city.

StableDiffusion - a fantasy maze at sunset overlooking the horizon

This looks like it might be a real hedge maze but placed near a wat in Asia. I think this could be made into something great with some adjustments !

StableDiffusion - A maze in the city of Gotham, highly detailed

If this was an actual maze with that amount of detail it would be epic. As much as I want to take this and make it myself, this looks like something that would take a significant amount of time.

StableDiffusion - Pablo Picasso hedge maze

Full disclosure I have tried this prompt many times with many sites and they usually lead to disappointment. This is the best output.

ToolBaz - a large labyrinth in a valley carved into the stone with a tower in the center, fantasy painting style

I just like it. It looks like a stone maze covered in some moss. possibly with some trees spread around throughout.

ToolBaz - a large room with a maze on the ceiling

If I ever open a maze museum I want this to be the ceiling.

ToolBaz - assorted prompts, see descriptions.

ToolBaz has some suggestions based on the prompts you write and these are a few that came up based on mine, made by them, all excellent. This is one of the great features of the site.

ToolBaz - assorted prompts, see descriptions.

I hope you enjoyed this exploration using AI to create maze and labyrinth images. Happy mazing !

Maze of the Week #73 - Hallgrímskirkja Church Maze

May 22, 2023

Maze of the Week #73 continues our run of religious building mazes with the Hallgrímskirkja Church, a Lutheran church located in Reykjavík, Iceland. It is the tallest church in Iceland and was completed in 1986. You can read about the church on Wikipedia or plan a visit on the church website. Or just watch this video to see everything:

Photo: from flickr, Bex Walton

The Maze: Because of the unique shape of the building I was compelled to add shadows to the maze. Any picture with light seems to have some sort of shadow present so I went for it.