Geometry of Ancient Mazes: A Synthesis Part Ⅱ 'Roman' Mazes

摘要

The aim of the present survey was an investigation of the processes implemented for conceiving and setting up three types of ancient mazes which have come down to us on various media (stone, mosaic, painting, ceramic, coins horizontal ellipsis ) from Prehistory to Middle Ages (and, for some, even later). The first part of this study was devoted to the so-called 'Cretan' mazes, and this second part focusses on a corpus of 43 'Roman' mazes ranging from Portugal and England to Cyprus and from 100 BC to AD 330. Like the other one, this type is well individualized and homogeneous; it is characterized by several similar sectors run through, clockwise or anticlockwise. An introductory study of a maze exemplifies the fundamental duality between path and walls and the various types of meanders which are to be met with. Then a general processes for setting up a Roman maze, beginning with making a regular grid, going on with filling a sector and duplicating it and ending with managing an entrance/exit device, is proposed. Variants of the general prototype are also reviewed. In particular, in the course of this work a comparative study enabled to investigate the complex and intriguing maze of Pula (Croatia), the structure of which can now be better understood.