Lăby̆rinthus

, a building whose numerous pa ages and perplexing windings render the escape from it difficult, and almost impracticable. There were four very famous among the ancients; one near the city of Crocodiles or Arsinoe, another in Crete, a third at Lemnos, and a fourth in Italy, built by Porsenna. That of Egypt was the most ancient, and Hero dot us, who saw it, declares that the beauty and art of the building were almost beyond belief. It was built by 12 kings, who at one time reigned in Egypt, and it was intended for the place of their burial, and to commemorate the actions of their reign. It was divided into 12 halls, or, according to Pliny, into 16, or, as Strabo mentions, into 27. The halls were vaulted, according to the relation of Hero dot us. They had each six doors, opening to the north, and the same number to the south, all surrounded by one wall. The edifice contained 3000 chambers, 1500 in the upper part, and the same number below. The chambers above were seen by Hero dot us, and astonished him beyond conception, but he was not permitted to see those below, where were buried the holy crocodiles and the monarchs whose munificence had raised the edifice. The roofs and walls were encrusted with marble, and adorned with sculptured figures. The halls were surrounded with stately and polished pillars of white stone, and, according to some authors, the opening of the doors was artfully attended with a terrible noise like peals of thunder. The labyrinth of Crete was built by Dædal us, in imitation of that of Egypt, and it is the most famous of all in cla ical history. It was the place of confinement for Dædal us himself, and the prison of the Minotaur. According to Pliny the labyrinth of Lemnos surpa ed the others in grandeur and magnificence. It was supported by 40 columns of uncommon height and thickne , and equally admirable for their beauty and splendour. Modern travellers are still astonished at the noble and magnificent ruins which appear of the Egyptian labyrinth, at the south of the lake Mœris, about 30 miles from the ruins of Arsinoe. Mela , bk. 1 , ch. 9 .— Pliny , bk. 36 , ch. 13 .— Strabo , bk. 10 .— Diodorus , bk. 1 .— Hero dot us , bk. 2 , ch. 148 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 5 , li. 588 .