Definition

Proper noun A vast, intricate maze constructed on the island of Crete by the legendary craftsman Daedalus, under the order of King Minos. Its primary purpose was to imprison the Minotaur, a creature that was half-man and half-bull.

Usage

This term is used specifically to refer to the mythological structure from Greek legend. It is often cited in discussions of mythology, ancient stories, and as a metaphor for something extremely complex and confusing. * According to the myth, Theseus entered the Labyrinth of Minos to slay the Minotaur. * The complex legal case was described as a modern Labyrinth of Minos.

Advanced Usage

• As a Metaphor: The phrase is commonly used metaphorically to describe any intricate, confusing, and inescapable system, situation, or process.
  • Navigating the government bureaucracy felt like being trapped in the Labyrinth of Minos.

Variants and Related Words

• Labyrinth (noun): A complicated, irregular network of passages or paths; a maze. This is the more general term from which the proper noun is derived.
• The Cretan Labyrinth: A synonymous name for the same mythological structure.
• Maze (noun): A complex network of paths, typically a puzzle to be solved. This is a common synonym for "labyrinth" in non-mythological contexts.

Synonyms

• Maze
• Web
• Tangle
• Complex

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A labyrinth of [something]: Used to describe a highly complex and confusing arrangement of things (e.g., a labyrinth of corridors, a labyrinth of regulations).
  • The old castle contained a labyrinth of secret passages.

Noun

1. a vast labyrinth built in Crete by Daedalus at the command of Minos in order to contain the Minotaur