Comparative mythology corpus

Labyrinth Initiation

21 appearances across 7 tradition groups.

Evidence

Each row links back to the complete public-domain source text and the structured extraction record.

TraditionSourcePassageConfidenceEvidenceRecord
Roman The Aeneid of Virgil BOOK FOURTH / THE LOVE OF DIDO, AND HER END / BOOK FIFTH / THE GAMES OF THE FLEET; lines 3187-3232 medium The boys gallop apart, deploy in threes, wheel back, charge with levelled arms, retreat, interlink circles, and perform an armed phantom battle. record
Roman The Aeneid of Virgil BOOK FIFTH / THE GAMES OF THE FLEET / BOOK SIXTH / THE VISION OF THE UNDER WORLD; lines 3469-3560 high The company approaches Trivia’s groves and the golden-roofed shrine; the doors display Daedalus’s flight and dedication, Androgeus, the Athenian tribute, Pasiphaë, the Minotaur, the maze, and the clue guiding the lover through the palace. record
Roman The Aeneid of Virgil BOOK EIGHTH / THE EMBASSAGE TO EVANDER / BOOK NINTH / THE SIEGE OF THE TROJAN CAMP; lines 5936-6013 medium The horsemen block roads and outlets; the forest is tangled with dark ilex and briars; Euryalus is hampered by boughs and spoil and misses the path while Nisus escapes and then looks back for him. record
Islamicate Folklore The Arabian Nights Entertainments The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 1860-1970 low The narrator later searches the cemetery for four days but cannot identify the tomb, and his oath prevents him from telling others what happened to the prince. record
Celtic Welsh The Mabinogion C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN; lines 4312-4396 medium The party journeys across a vast plain toward a fair castle; after a day they are no nearer, and only after further days can they reach it. record
Hindu Maha-bharata BOOK VIII / BHISHMA-BADHA / BOOK IX / DRONA-BADHA; lines 4830-4970 medium On Abhimanyu's fatal day, Drona arranges a circular battle-line; the Pandavs cannot force a passage, but Abhimanyu enters alone and cuts through troops, animals, and standards. record
Roman The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV OF THE / PRINCIPAL TRANSFORMATIONS MENTIONED IN / THE METAMORPHOSES. / BOOK VIII.; lines 234-271 high Minos returns to Crete, has Daedalus help erect the Labyrinth, encloses the Minotaur there, and feeds it Athenian captives; Theseus slays the Minotaur, escapes with Ariadne's aid, deserts Ariadne on Dia, and Bacchus places her crown among the constellations. record
Roman The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK XIV. / BOOK XV. / BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION.; lines 635-725 high Minos resolves to enclose the monster in a many-divided abode full of mazes; Daedalus designs it with confusing marks and intricate passages compared to the winding Maeander. record
Roman The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK XV. / BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 728-812 high Daedalus builds a labyrinth in Crete; a variant places Theseus’s fight in a cavern; Theseus either volunteers or is selected by lot; Ariadne’s thread is interpreted as a plan of the labyrinth; her Bacchus story is rationalized as marriage to a priest of Bacchus. record
Roman The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE EIGHTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 899-983 medium Daedalus builds the Labyrinth; one account says it followed the Egyptian Labyrinth, while another says it did not resemble it and was only a prison for criminals. record
Greek/Roman Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome VESTALIA. / PART II.--LEGENDS. / CADMUS. / PERSEUS.; lines 6834-6902 low Daedalus constructs the labyrinth for Minos, an intricate building, and Minos places the bull-human Minotaur in it. record
Greek/Roman Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome PELOPS. / HERACLES (HERCULES). / BELLEROPHON. / THESEUS.; lines 8505-8590 high Aphrodite inspires Ariadne’s attachment to Theseus; Ariadne secretly gives him a sharp sword and a clue of thread with instructions for finding and leaving the Minotaur’s lair. record
Norse Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas CHAPTER XXVI: THE SIGURD SAGA / CHAPTER XXVII: THE STORY OF FRITHIOF / CHAPTER XXVIII: THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS / CHAPTER XXIX: GREEK AND NORTHERN MYTHOLOGIES; lines 12874-12978 high Völundarhaus is compared with the Cretan labyrinth; Völund and Dædalus escape by wings; Völund and Vulcan are smiths using craft for revenge. record
Norse Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas CHAPTER XV: VIDAR / CHAPTER XVI: VALI / CHAPTER XVII: THE NORNS / CHAPTER XVIII: THE VALKYRS; lines 6539-6657 medium He also compelled him to build an intricate labyrinth. record
Greek The Odyssey BOOK VII / RECEPTION OF ULYSSES AT THE PALACE OF KING ALCINOUS. / BOOK VIII / BOOK IX; lines 4074-4168 medium Odysseus cuts about six feet from the Cyclops' green olive-wood club, has it smoothed, points and chars it, and hides it under dung in the cave. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki The Ramayan of Valmiki / CONTENTS; lines 278-475 low The search sequence titles include Sugríva’s tale, the return, the Asur’s death, Angad’s speeches and counsel, the enchanted cave, Svayamprabhá, the exit, Hanumán’s speech, Sampáti, Sampáti’s story, tidings of Sítá, the sea, the council, Hanumán, and Hanumán’s speech. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XLIV. The Ring. / Canto XLV. The Departure. / Canto XLVII. The Return. / Canto L. The Enchanted Cave.; lines 43443-43565 high The searchers reach the southern wooded mountains and see a large cave opening in a mountain side, covered with creepers, from which lake birds emerge. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XLV. The Departure. / Canto XLVII. The Return. / Canto L. The Enchanted Cave. / Canto LII. The Exit.; lines 43568-43738 medium The Vánars search the southern region, reach the ocean shore, collapse from hunger, and see a dark plant-covered opening in the ground from which wet swans and mallards emerge. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XLV. The Departure. / Canto XLVII. The Return. / Canto L. The Enchanted Cave. / Canto LII. The Exit.; lines 43568-43738 medium Tára urges the Vánars not to despair but to dwell in the ample magic-made cavern, with springs, fruit, flowering trees, and protection from enemies. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki Canto XLV. The Departure. / Canto XLVII. The Return. / Canto L. The Enchanted Cave. / Canto LII. The Exit.; lines 43901-44053 medium Angad recounts Vanara lineage, Rama’s exile, Sita’s abduction, Jatayus’s fight and death, Rama and Sugriva’s covenant, Bali’s death, Sugriva’s search command, the month lost in Maya’s underground cavern, and the Vanaras’ resolve to fast and die. record
Hindu The Ramayan of Valmiki FOOTNOTES / ILIAD. XVII. 426. / GORRESIO. / MACBETH.; lines 64865-64999 medium Svayamprabha, the self-luminous, is discussed as identified by De Gubernatis with the moon and a good fairy; the note says Hanuman and companions wandered for a month in the cavern while searching for Sita, and Svayamprabha then led them out. record