The term labyrinth was first documented in 1387, referring to the intricate maze in Ancient Greece. Initially spelled as laborintus, it also appeared as laboryncus, loboryntus, labirinthos, labirinthus, and more. It wasn’t until the late 16th century that it began to be commonly used for other maze-like structures. The word’s origin can be traced back to Ancient Greek, but its exact etymology remains uncertain. One prevalent hypothesis suggests a connection to the Lydian word labrys, which means “double ax” and was a symbol associated with the palace of Knossos, where the original labyrinth was believed to exist. Another theory proposes a link to a term in Linear A (an ancient pre-Indo-European language in the region) due to a similar word meaning “cavern” in Linear B. While the true origin may never be definitively known, both explanations offer intriguing possibilities!
