TWO STONE CLOTH MEASURES, ITALY

RIMINI – COMMUNAL MEASURING STONE dated 1544 (used in particular for fabrics). A very sophisticated multi-measurement example. See below for a rustic one.

CALENZANO ALTA – a simple cloth measure incised in side-stone of an archway. This standard medieval length is known as a “Braccio”, an arm’s length.

VENICE, GRAND CANAL – STONEWORK DETAIL on a quayside wall

The complete fragment, tastefully set off by a drainpipe

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST DENIS (Paris) – PAINTED FLOOR TILE

TWO ITALIAN MAZES

1. MAZE IN THE ENTRANCE PORCH OF THE DUOMO S. MARTINO, LUCCA

This maze is embedded in the right pier of the portico and is believed to date from the 12th century or 13th century. Its importance is that it may well pre-date the famous Chartres maze, yet is of the Chartres pattern that became a standard for mazes. The attractive and rustic incised Latin inscription refers to ancient pagan mythology: “This is the labyrinth built by Dedalus of Crete; all who entered therein were lost, save Theseus, thanks to Ariadne’s thread.”

HIC QUEM CRETICUS EDIT

DAEDALUS EST LABERINTHUS

DE QUO NULLUS VADERE

QUIVIT QUI FUIT INTUS

NI THESEUS GRATIS ADRIANE

STAMINE JUTUS

2. BASILICA DI S. VITALE, RAVENNA – LARGE FLOOR MAZE

Both these maze images are now featured in the excellent and fascinating maze website at MAZES & LABYRINTHS  This site covers the history of mazes, with prolific examples both photographic and diagrammatic, and a multitude of links to other maze-related material. Once you start in there, you may never find your way out…

RAVENNA- BASILICA DI S. VITALE Small Floor Mosaic

SHERBORNE, DORSET: MASONIC EMBLEM ON THE LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE (1896)

STONE PLAQUES  FROM EITHER SIDE OF A RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER THE HIGH PEAK RAILWAY, DERBYSHIRE (NOW DE-COMMISSIONED AND OPERATING AS THE TISSINGTON TRAIL FOR CYCLISTS & WALKERS)