Church Labyrinths in Norway

Seljord Church, Telemark.

A labyrinth, c.80 cm in diameter, is painted in red pigment on the west façade, next to the doorway of this fine church, built in the late 12th century. Uncovered during restoration in 1926, the labyrinth is of 12-wall double angle classical type with the entrance to the top left, but with an unusual spiral centre and a 'floating' outer wall, that causes the first three circuits to spiral inwards in a simple fashion with no 'switch-backs' or turns in direction. The curious look of this labyrinth can be explained by the way the designer has started to connect the cross, angles and dots. The conventional way of drawing is to begin with a connecting arc between one of the arms of the central cross and the closest angle, but in this case the drawing has begun with a connecting arc between a dot and its adjacent angle, resulting in the spiral at the centre. To the right of the labyrinth is a depiction of a small ship.

Literature:
Marstrander, Sverre. 1937. Mindre meddelelser. Universitetets Oldsakssamlings Årbok 1935-36, p. 147. Aschehougs konversasjons Leksikon, bd.12, p.8-10. Kern, Hermann. Through the Labyrinth, Prestel, München, 2000, p.281. Thordrup, Jørgen. Alle Tiders Labyrinter. Silkeborg, Denmark, Dixit,2002, p.42-43. Saward, Jeff. Labyrinths & Mazes. London, Gaia, 2003, p.108-111.

Vestre Slidre Church, Valdres.

A perfectly drawn, 12-wall double angle classical type labyrinth, c.40 cm in diameter and drawn in black pigment, is preserved on the wall of the southern doorway, on the exterior side, to the east of the door. As with the example at Seljord, the entrance of the labyrinth is to the top.

Literature:
Kern, 2000, p.282. Thordrup, 2002, p.42. Saward, 2003, p.108-111.

© Labyrinthos 2005 ~ this page last updated 28/01/2005