The special thanks of the writer are due to Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie for permission to make use of his diagram of the conjectural restoration of the Labyrinth of Egypt, Fig. 4, and the view of the shrine of Amenemhat III, Fig. 2, also for facilities to sketch the Egyptian plaque in his collection which is shown in Fig. 19 and for drawing the writer's attention thereto; to Sir Arthur Evans for the use of his illustrations of double axes and of the Tomb of the Double Axe which appear as Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 respectively (Fig. 8 is also based on one of his drawings); to M. Picard (of the _Librairie A. Picard_) for leave to reproduce the drawing of the Susa mosaic, Fig. 37; to Mr. J. H. Craw, F.S.A. (Scot.), Secretary of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, for the use of the illustrations of sculptured rocks, Figs. 128 and 129; to the Rev. E. A. Irons for the photograph of the Wing maze, Fig. 60, and to the Rev. G. Yorke for the figure of the Alkborough "Julian's Bower," Fig. 59. The many kind-hearted persons who have earned the gratitude of the writer by acceding to his requests for local information, or by bringing useful references to his notice, will perhaps take no offence if he thanks them collectively, though very heartily, in this place. In most cases where they are not mentioned individually in the text they will be found quoted as authorities in the bibliographical appendix. The present is, however, the most fitting place in which to express a cordial acknowledgment of the assistance rendered by the writer's friend, Mr. G. F. Green, whose skill and experience in the photographic art has been of very great value. Grateful recognition must also be made of the help and courtesy extended to the writer by the officials of several libraries, museums, and other institutions, notably the British Museum, the Society of Antiquaries, Sion College, and the Royal Horticultural Society. W. H. M. _Ruislip, Middlesex._ 1922. CONTENTS PAGES PREFACE vii-viii CONTENTS ix-xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv-xviii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Lure of the Labyrinth--Difficulties of Definition--The Subject and Object of this Book--The Lore of the Labyrinth-- Some Neglected British Monuments--Destructive Dogmatism: a Plea for Caution 1-5 CHAPTER II THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH (i) _Accounts of the Ancient Writers_ Enormous Edifices of Egypt--Herodotus: his Account of the Labyrinth, its Vastness and Complexity, and its Lake-- Strabo's Description--The Sacred Crocodiles--Accounts of Diodorus, Pomponius Mela, and Pliny 6-10 CHAPTER III THE EGYPTIAN LABYRINTH (_continued_)