This quote from your essay “Its role in wondertales, as the thread through the labyrinth, in and out of the liminal magical space” that triggered memory of when I read somewhere the string or thread in labyrinth was red
I understand- it may have been subconscious turn of phrase in my case. No sources I can find or have ever come across refer to it that way though; I was using it more figuratively.
I love how you are planning a video in which your orally tell these folktales, as they were meant to be delivered! How exciting! And fusing it with modern technology!
Speaking of red thread, I wonder if you could confirm for me something I read a while back that I don’t remember the source. But I’ve been fixated on this detail ever since. Accordingly it claimed that in the myth of the labyrinth, in which Ariadne had a ball of thread which she gave to Theseus to help him escape the labyrinth - that that ball of thread was red. Since I came across this “red thread” of Ariadne I can’t find any concrete evidence that it was red. Was wondering if it is commonly described as red amongst modern day Greeks?
Hi Katriena and thanks for your question! So no, I have never encountered it as red, and it’s not described that way anywhere that I know of. In Greek, both in the sources and the common simplified version, it’s string, not thread, made by Daedalus, and the only variation I’ve found is that it’s sometimes referred to as golden string. If you’ve encountered as red, that may be an embellishment or fusion of the myth with the wondertale “red thread” motif - not impossible!
Yes! Possibly an embellishment as I’ve heard gold string more common than any colour denoted. But memory got triggered when you used the word red thread weaving through the labyrinth in same sentence. Can’t remember exact way you linked the two but that triggered my recall and I guess part of me wants it to be red as it would tie in with the theory that the mysteries of the labyrinth are a menstrual story
You’ve just sent me straight into another rabbit hole 😁 My first instinct was ”nah, not in Greek tradition,” but it’s not actually something I’ve looked at . A (very quick) look at a couple of sources suggest that there’s definitely material around menstruation and fertility rituals. But I’d be very wary about connecting them with red thread or labyrinths as I’ve never seen such connections *within Greek folk tradition* that I can safely say are historically correct. Red thread is certainly connected with magic, but menstruation is such a huge taboo that it will be tricky to find anything concrete. I’m going to explore this one a bit and will get back to you if I find something!
Ooooh!! Do keep me posted what you uncover. Well when it comes to magic there is so much magic in menstruation. For instance many indigenous cultures perceive women to be more psychic -ally powerful during their bleed. Delphi means both dolphin and womb, and there is a long tradition of the oracle priestesshood cults in Dodona and Delphi. Weaving has also been associated with magic, think Isis knot, and Neith in Egypt, whose counterpart was Athena in the Greek. Many cultures associate weaving of threads, as an analogy for the incarnation of souls. These weavers and spinners have acquired prophetic characteristics across many cultures as spinners of destiny, the fatas, the Norns for instance in Norse, their names were derived from root to turn/ to become. And we had Became (the Norn of the past), Becoming (present) and Shall be/ will become (future).
When I think of the red threads, it also makes me think of the placenta/ tree of life, with all these red thread like connections that feed the fetus, literally incarnating it to form.
So would be interesting if the mystery around the labyrinth could possibly be linked to feminine mysteries around the cycle of their bleed, but maybe it’s a bit far fetched
This is the thing, I was certain it was connected with the Moires / Greek Fates, but I can’t find a shred of evidence. Not one. I am thinking that the intensity of the taboo is such that I’m unlikely to. Will keep looking though, thanks for alerting me to this dimension (I wouldn’t have looked at it, too focused on other areas).
Absolutely wonderful as always! And I love the pictures and photos you include.
Lovely!
This quote from your essay “Its role in wondertales, as the thread through the labyrinth, in and out of the liminal magical space” that triggered memory of when I read somewhere the string or thread in labyrinth was red
I understand- it may have been subconscious turn of phrase in my case. No sources I can find or have ever come across refer to it that way though; I was using it more figuratively.
Yeah I think it was a subconscious trigger memory as that sentence under the heading of red thread
I love how you are planning a video in which your orally tell these folktales, as they were meant to be delivered! How exciting! And fusing it with modern technology!
Thanks so much!! I’m really excited about it, rehearsing hard!
You’re gonna be great! I’m sure of it
Speaking of red thread, I wonder if you could confirm for me something I read a while back that I don’t remember the source. But I’ve been fixated on this detail ever since. Accordingly it claimed that in the myth of the labyrinth, in which Ariadne had a ball of thread which she gave to Theseus to help him escape the labyrinth - that that ball of thread was red. Since I came across this “red thread” of Ariadne I can’t find any concrete evidence that it was red. Was wondering if it is commonly described as red amongst modern day Greeks?
Hi Katriena and thanks for your question! So no, I have never encountered it as red, and it’s not described that way anywhere that I know of. In Greek, both in the sources and the common simplified version, it’s string, not thread, made by Daedalus, and the only variation I’ve found is that it’s sometimes referred to as golden string. If you’ve encountered as red, that may be an embellishment or fusion of the myth with the wondertale “red thread” motif - not impossible!
Yes! Possibly an embellishment as I’ve heard gold string more common than any colour denoted. But memory got triggered when you used the word red thread weaving through the labyrinth in same sentence. Can’t remember exact way you linked the two but that triggered my recall and I guess part of me wants it to be red as it would tie in with the theory that the mysteries of the labyrinth are a menstrual story
You’ve just sent me straight into another rabbit hole 😁 My first instinct was ”nah, not in Greek tradition,” but it’s not actually something I’ve looked at . A (very quick) look at a couple of sources suggest that there’s definitely material around menstruation and fertility rituals. But I’d be very wary about connecting them with red thread or labyrinths as I’ve never seen such connections *within Greek folk tradition* that I can safely say are historically correct. Red thread is certainly connected with magic, but menstruation is such a huge taboo that it will be tricky to find anything concrete. I’m going to explore this one a bit and will get back to you if I find something!
Ooooh!! Do keep me posted what you uncover. Well when it comes to magic there is so much magic in menstruation. For instance many indigenous cultures perceive women to be more psychic -ally powerful during their bleed. Delphi means both dolphin and womb, and there is a long tradition of the oracle priestesshood cults in Dodona and Delphi. Weaving has also been associated with magic, think Isis knot, and Neith in Egypt, whose counterpart was Athena in the Greek. Many cultures associate weaving of threads, as an analogy for the incarnation of souls. These weavers and spinners have acquired prophetic characteristics across many cultures as spinners of destiny, the fatas, the Norns for instance in Norse, their names were derived from root to turn/ to become. And we had Became (the Norn of the past), Becoming (present) and Shall be/ will become (future).
When I think of the red threads, it also makes me think of the placenta/ tree of life, with all these red thread like connections that feed the fetus, literally incarnating it to form.
So would be interesting if the mystery around the labyrinth could possibly be linked to feminine mysteries around the cycle of their bleed, but maybe it’s a bit far fetched
This is the thing, I was certain it was connected with the Moires / Greek Fates, but I can’t find a shred of evidence. Not one. I am thinking that the intensity of the taboo is such that I’m unlikely to. Will keep looking though, thanks for alerting me to this dimension (I wouldn’t have looked at it, too focused on other areas).