Caerdroia 1992

Welcome to this electronic implementation of Caerdroia issue 25, the journal of the Caerdroia mazes and labyrinths society. The text, photographs and illustrations have been converted to computer files so that you can view them on a PC. All the documents have been indexed and linked within Microcosm to create an application that is more than just the printed journal displayed on a screen.

Additional material, including some animations, digitised video and sound, has been created to show all the possibilities offered by Microcosm. Please note that copyright of all material remains © Caerdroia and the individual authors, artists and photographers.

When you think of mazes, you probably think of the Hampton Court hedge maze or perhaps recall the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur. However, the labyrinth symbol can be traced back over 3500 years and can be found in cultures throughout the world. Using Microcosm you can follow the twists and turns of the links (both visible and hidden) between documents to find your own meaning at the centre of the labyrinth symbol.

This Introduction branch of the Logical File Structure contains some good starting points for exploring the documents:

The Labyrinth
The Centre of the Labyrinth
these contain the text of introductory leaflets produced by Caerdroia. Links have been made from them to many other documents.

Caerdroia 25 contents
this is the contents page of Caerdroia issue 25 and contains links to every article.

Caerdroia 25 cover
this is the front cover of Caerdroia issue 25

Labyrinth Spell
this is a digitised video segment in Windows AVI format. It shows a top view of a wooden game called the Labyrinth Spell made by Ken Wells, a craftsman from Portsmouth. A ball-bearing is rolled around a labyrinth by carefully tilting the playing surface using control knobs. The left hand tilts the surface left and right, the right hand tilts it backwards and forwards. The aim is to navigate the ball safely past the holes and complete the course. In use it is rather like an analogue video game which requires subtlety of touch and coordination. It also has that 'just one more go' quality that keeps you playing until late at night.

La Rotta
this is a digitised sound segment in Windows WAV format. La Rotta is an anonymous 14th Century Italian dance tune, played here by the Frescobaldi Consort, an early-music group based in Southampton. The tune can be extended indefinitely using repeats and lends itself well to processing around labyrinths, such as the Mizmaze on St. Catherine's Hill near Winchester.

Glossary
this is a simple Toolbook application that covers some of the basic terms used to describe mazes and labyrinths.

Making a Labyrinth
this is a short Microcosm Guided Tour, showing a few documents about stone labyrinth construction techniques.

Minstead
this is a Microsoft Word 6.0 file about a new turf labyrinth at Minstead in Hampshire. It contains links to two colour JPEG files:
laying out the Minstead maze
the Minstead maze at dusk

Adam Warren
Southampton University Computing Services

April 1994