LABYRINTH

(Gr. \a6oUvQo$.) Literally a place, usually subterraneous, full of inextricable windings. Ancient history gives an account of four celebrated labyrinths; the Cretan, Egyptian, Lemnian, and Italian. The first was built by Daedal us at the instigation of Minos, to secure the Minotaur; the second is said to have been constructed by Psammetichus, king of Egypt; the third was on the island of Lemnos, and was supported by columns of great beauty; and the fourth was designed by Porsenna, king of Etruria, as a tomb for himself and his succe ors. Of these labyrinths the Cretan is most celebrated in the historical and mythological writings of antiquity; but the Egyptian was by far the most important, both in extent and magnificence. The latter, which was built on the isle of Meroe, was a vast edifice, composed of twelve palaces, all contained within the compa of one wall, and communicating with each other. It had only one entrance; but the innumerable turnings and windings of the terraces and rooms of which it consisted rendered it impo ible for those who had once entered within its walls to get out without a guide. It is said to have been designed either as a burial-place for the Egyptian kings, or for the preservation of the sacred crocodiles, the chief objects of Egyptian idolatry. It was partly demolished between the reigns of August us and Titus; but even at the period of Pliny's visit, its ruins were magnificent. (Pliny, lib. xxxv.) Pococke's History of the East (vol. i., p. 61, ), and Perry's View of the Levant (p. 381), contain a plan and description of the modern state of this labyrinth. With regard to the labyrinth of Crete, no doubt can now remain, after the statements of Cockcrell and Tournefort, that ita existence was a reality, and not merely a fabulous creation of the Grecian imagination. According to these travellers the island of Crete abounds even at the present day in extensive caverns, one of which, consisting principally of many long windings and narrow pa ages that can only be safely explored by means of a clue, exhibits a wonderful similarity in all e ential particulars to the famous labyrinth of Doedalus. It is impo ible, at this distant period, to pronounce with certainty on so difficult a question; but the substantial coincidences that exist between the ancient and modern labyrinths seem to leave little doubt as to their identity. (See Geo. Vict., art. "Crete.") La'bvrinth. In Metallurgy, a series of troughs attached to a stamping mill, through which a current of water pa es for the purpose of washing away the suspended pulverized ore, and subsequently depositing it at different distances, depending upon Us state of comminution. La'byrinth. A term applied by anatomists to the internal parts of the car, from the intricacy of their winding pa ages. SeeEar. [s. 650]