_Habeat et in diarodino laberinthum fabrefactum ex auro et margaritis, in quo sit Minotaurus, digitum ad os tenens ex smaragdo factus, quia sicut non valet quis laberinthum scrutare, ita non debet consilium dominatoris propalare._ "Let there be represented on it (the Emperor's robe) a labyrinth of gold and pearls, in which is the Minotaur, made of emerald, holding his finger to his mouth, thus signifying that, just as none may know the secret of the labyrinth, so none may reveal the monarch's counsels." [Illustration: FIG. 40.--Labyrinth engraved on an ancient gem. (Maffei.)] It has been pointed out by Mr. A. B. Cook that in the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge is a painting by Bartolommeo Veneto (1502-1530) representing an unknown man who wears on his breast a labyrinth resembling that described above. CHAPTER IX CHURCH LABYRINTHS The consideration of labyrinths worked in Roman mosaic pavements leads us on to a very interesting development of the subject which deserves a chapter to itself, namely, the Labyrinth in the Church. Probably the oldest known example of this nature is that in the ancient basilica of _Reparatus_ at Orléansville (Algeria), an edifice which is believed to date from the fourth century A.D. In the pavement near the north-west entrance of the church is the design shown in outline in Fig. 42. It measures about 8 ft. in diameter and shows great resemblance to the Roman pavement found at Harpham and the tomb-mosaic at Susa. At the centre is a _jeu-de-lettres_ on the words SANCTA ECLESIA, which may be read in any direction, except diagonally, commencing at the centre. But for the employment of these words the labyrinth in question might well have been conceived to be a Roman relic utilised by the builders of the church to ornament their pavement. Such pavement-labyrinths, however, with or without central figures or other embellishments, and of various dimensions and composition, are found in many of the old churches of France and Italy. [Illustration: FIG. 42.--Labyrinth in Church of Reparatus, Orléansville, Algeria. (Prevost.)] [Illustration: FIG. 43.--Labyrinth in Lucca Cathedral. (Durand.)] They seem to have been constructed chiefly during the twelfth century, and although several of them have been destroyed many fine examples still remain. Some are formed on the walls instead of the pavements, and in such cases are of smaller dimensions. [Illustration: FIG. 44.--Labyrinth in S. Michele, Pavia. (Ciampini.)] On the whole, too, those in the Italian churches are much smaller than the French specimens. On the wall of Lucca Cathedral (Fig. 43) is one of a diameter of only 1 ft. 7-1/2 in. It formerly enclosed at the centre a representation of Theseus and the Minotaur, but owing to the friction of many generations of tracing fingers this has become effaced. Opposite the "entrance" is the inscription: