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Specialised Sources & Academic Studies - Roman Labyrinths & Mosaics


The labyrinth was well known and widespread throughout the Roman Empire, and consequently many examples have survived from this period, especially in the form of floor mosaics. The following books and papers provide catalogues and analysis of their designs.


Daszewski, Wictor. Nea Paphos II, La Mosaique de Thésée, Etudes sur les mosaiques avec representations du Labyrinth, de Thésée et du Minotaur. Varsovie: PWN editions scientifiques de Pologne, 1977.

Field, Robert. Mazes: Ancient & Modern. Diss, England: Tarquin Publications, 1999.

Kern, Hermann. Through the Labyrinth, ed. Robert Ferré & Jeff Saward. Munich: Prestel, 2000. (Chapter VI provides the most complete catalogue of Roman mosaic labyrinths published)

Kraft, John. "The Cretan Labyrinth and the Walls of Troy: an analysis of Roman labyrinth designs" Opuscula Romana XV:6, (1985), pp79-86.

Ling, Roger. Ancient Mosaics. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

Lundén, Staffan. "The Labyrinth in the Mediterranean" Caerdroia 27 (1996), pp.28-54; Caerdroia 28 (1997), pp.28-34 and Caerdroia 29 (1998), pp.38-42.

Lundén, Staffan. "The Palatine Labyrinth - was it built in the 1st or 20th century?" Caerdroia 34 (2004), pp.7-14.

Lundén, Staffan & John Kraft. "A Labyrinth Mosaic at Mieza, Macedonia" Caerdroia 28 (1997), pp.13-16.

Neal, David S. Roman Mosaics in Britain. Gloucester, England: Alan Sutton, 1981.

Phillips, Anthony. "The Topology of Roman Mosaic Mazes" Leonardo, vol.25, no.3/4 (1992), pp321-329.

Saward, Jeff. Labyrinths & Mazes. London: Gaia Books, 2003 & New York: Lark Books, 2003.

Soreto, Carlos. "Portuguese Mosaic Labyrinths" Caerdroia 33 (2003), pp.33-39.

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