"Gestures of approach": aspects of liminality and labyrinths

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore some matters of liminality relevant to labyrinths. To this end, the discussion opens by considering some implications of the way liminality is defined before moving on to an examination of labyrinths in terms of their two- or three-dimensionality. The liminal implications of these labyrinths as designs and structures are then discussed in some detail, together with their symbolic/metaphorical aspects. In the course of this discussion, a taxonomy of the labyrinth- walking process is presented. The article concludes with a brief consideration of the liminal significance of the Knossos Labyrinth’s location on the island of Crete. OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie artikel is om etlike kwessies rondom liminaliteit met betrekking tot labirinte te ondersoek. Ten einde hierdie oogmerk te bereik, word die implikasies van die definisie van liminaliteit eers bespreek. Vervolgens word labirinte in terme van hulle twee- en driedimensionaliteit ondersoek. Daarna word die liminale implikasies van hierdie labirinte as ontwerpe en strukture tesame met hulle simboliese/metaforiese aspekte in meer detail bespreek. ’n Taksonomie van die labirint wandelproses word in die loop van die bespreking aangebied. Die artikel sluit af met ’n kort oorweging van die liminale beduidenis van die Knossos Labirint se ligging op Kreta.