815:
587:
424:
880:
833:
490:
281:
361:
716:
607:
258:
696:
384:
466:
20:
728:
767:
791:
650:
670:
544:
623:
564:
740:
310:
404:
857:
440:
521:
1604:
337:
40:
814:
586:
81:
design, although these terms are modern designations even though the decorative motif appears thousands of years before that culture, thousands of miles away from Greece, and among cultures that are continents away from it. Usually the term is used for motifs with straight lines and right angles and
879:
489:
606:
832:
280:
563:
360:
423:
715:
465:
669:
622:
237:
Meanders and their generalizations are used with increasing frequency in various domains of contemporary art. The painter Yang Liu, for example, has incorporated smooth versions of the traditional Greek Key (also called Sona drawing,
790:
649:
543:
727:
336:
309:
257:
766:
695:
856:
383:
739:
403:
439:
173:
still bear geometric designs almost identical to meanders. Although space-filling curves have a long history in China in motifs more than 2,000 years earlier, extending back to
146:
onward. The design is common to the present-day in classicizing architecture, and is adopted frequently as a decorative motif for borders for many modern printed materials.
154:
The meander is a fundamental design motif in regions far from a
Hellenic orbit: labyrinthine meanders ("thunder" pattern ) appear in bands and as infill on
189:
520:
174:
820:
Neoclassical meander on a stove tile from a house in
Bucharest, on display during an exhibition in the Bucharest City Hall, unknown designer,
229:. A meander motif also appears in prehistoric Mayan design motifs in the western hemisphere, centuries before any European contacts.
297:
1255:
1236:
1195:
1158:
1133:
1108:
1083:
1058:
797:
572:
meander on a page from the
Petershausener Sakramentar, 960-980, tempera colors, gold paint, gold leaf, and ink on parchment,
499:
1302:
19:
721:
Neoclassical meander border of a ceiling of the Salon du glacier in the Palais
Garnier, by Charles Garnier, 1860–1875
1024:
1014:, Summer 2009, pp. 37–41. Published by ISAMA, The International Society for the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture.
592:
Romanesque meander of a tapestry with Saint
Michael fighting with the dragon, 1146-1155, linen yarn, wool, linen,
612:
Byzantine brick meander on the facade of the Church of the
Thetokos tou Libos of Constantine Lips, currently the
632:
430:
214:), frequently there is speculation that meanders of Greek origin may have come to China during the time of the
733:
Neoclassical meander border of a floor of the Moon Salon in the Palais
Garnier, by Charles Garnier, 1860–1875
573:
1347:
773:
706:
476:
1623:
745:
366:
71:. Among some Italians, these patterns are known as "Greek Lines". Such a design may also be called the
628:
139:
95:
1277:—a short description, with a list of links to photographs of meander designs in art and architecture
656:
267:
1521:
1491:
1481:
1295:
1633:
495:
472:
370:
226:
24:
593:
446:
838:
Neoclassical meander on a wall of Stock
Exchange Building (Trg hrvatskih velikana no. 3) of
1501:
86:
or, following the etymological origin of the term, may be identified as water wave motifs.
549:
Byzantine meander on the south-west door, unknown architect or sculptor, 829-842, bronze,
8:
1638:
1568:
1407:
1322:
847:
781:
342:
Ancient Greek meanders on the base of a column from the ruins of the Temple of Apollo at
68:
1628:
1372:
1367:
1288:
749:
327:
1251:
1232:
1191:
1154:
1129:
1104:
1079:
1054:
660:
613:
286:
870:
67:) is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated
1587:
1558:
1526:
1516:
915:
526:
143:
1603:
1466:
1426:
1417:
1362:
680:
316:
1548:
1578:
1311:
890:
702:
569:
131:
60:
1617:
1533:
1461:
1421:
1342:
1271:
263:
155:
94:
On one hand, the name "meander" recalls the twisting and turning path of the
1563:
1538:
1451:
1397:
757:
640:
550:
530:
239:
107:
83:
1446:
1337:
1204:
886:
597:
394:
215:
77:
1496:
1412:
1377:
1352:
997:
Yang Liu, "Cross-culturalism in painting: visualization via meanders",
753:
577:
390:
315:
A typical Attic red-figure cup with meander pattern at borders, by the
99:
1573:
1441:
1436:
1392:
1357:
1332:
984:
Yang Liu, "Visual art as research: Explorations with sona drawings",
805:
801:
127:
123:
111:
28:
1128:(in German). Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle. p. 17.
39:
1511:
1506:
1382:
862:
636:
554:
1227:
Celac, Mariana; Carabela, Octavian; Marcu-Lapadat, Marius (2017).
1593:
1553:
1476:
1456:
1402:
1327:
843:
676:
503:
480:
450:
410:
374:
32:
655:
Neoclassical meander border on the ceiling of the Grave of Foy,
1583:
1471:
1387:
910:
839:
777:
534:
414:
347:
343:
301:
289:
271:
135:
103:
44:
1543:
1431:
243:
170:
1280:
1226:
1210:
968:
at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, in "A Chinese Bronze",
106:) that is typical of river pathways. On another hand, as
942:
are not very common outside of archaeological contexts.
631:
meander border of the railing from the stairway of the
889:
column capital of the Vasile I. Prodanof family tomb,
292:
with three women that have meanders on their clothes,
616:, Istanbul, unknown architect, 907, refounded in 1287
1167:
1010:
Yang Liu, "From sona drawings to contemporary art",
266:
bowl decorated with a meander, 730–720 BC, ceramic,
953:Dionysos: archetypal image of indestructible life
865:dress decorated with meanders, unknown producer,
149:
82:the many versions with rounded shapes are called
1615:
701:Neoclassical meander border on a ceiling of the
483:, Italy, unknown architect or craftsman, 425-450
169:), and many traditional buildings in and around
679:of the Ensemble immobilier de la cité d'Antin (
1296:
110:pointed out, "the meander is the figure of a
1151:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
1101:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
1076:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
47:, Greece, in pavement made from beach stones
1229:Bucharest Architecture - an annotated guide
429:Roman meander on a mosaic, 1st century BC,
417:, unknown architect or sculptor, 117-118 AD
232:
122:Meanders are common decorative elements in
1303:
1289:
1123:
988:, April 2010, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 129–131.
409:Roman meander on the Temple of Hadrianus,
964:See J. E. L., description of a Late Chou
869:1925, georgette, and crochet embroidery,
506:, Italy, unknown architect or craftsman,
23:Meander (or Greek key) on a stove in the
1211:Celac, Carabela & Marcu-Lapadat 2017
1148:
1098:
1073:
397:, Italy, unknown architect, unknown date
377:, Italy, unknown painter, 1st century BC
38:
18:
885:Neoclassical and Art Deco meander on a
796:Neoclassical meander on a floor in the
16:Decorative continuous line border motif
1616:
1185:
1048:
89:
1284:
1245:
1173:
955:(Princeton University Press) 1976:89.
1273:Illustrated Architecture Dictionary
1001:, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, pp. 205–214.
970:Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts
683:no. 59), Paris, unknown architect,
445:Roman meander on a mosaic from the
13:
1231:. Order of Architects of Romania.
1051:Mystery Cults in the Ancient World
117:
14:
1650:
1265:
1188:A History of Western Architecture
748:vase with a meander, produced by
510:500, with later alterations from
500:Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
350:, unknown architect or sculptor,
1602:
1126:Perspektiven Der Textilen Künste
893:, Bucharest, unknown architect,
878:
855:
831:
813:
789:
765:
738:
726:
714:
694:
668:
648:
621:
605:
585:
562:
542:
519:
488:
464:
438:
422:
402:
382:
359:
335:
308:
279:
256:
43:Meander motif in the streets of
1179:
1142:
1117:
1092:
1053:. London: Thames & Hudson.
999:Journal of Visual Arts Practice
27:(Strada Arthur Verona no. 13),
1190:. Laurence King. p. 490.
1067:
1042:
1017:
1004:
991:
978:
958:
945:
928:
772:Greek Revival meanders on the
431:Archaeological Museum of Milan
298:National Archaeological Museum
150:Labyrinthine meanders in China
1:
1310:
894:
866:
821:
684:
574:Heidelberg University Library
537:, unknown architect, 750–1050
511:
507:
454:
351:
320:
293:
219:
204:
193:
178:
159:
1248:Architecture The Whole Story
1025:"Temple of Apollo at Didyma"
921:
774:Austrian Parliament Building
675:Neoclassical meander in the
246:) in many of her paintings.
7:
1124:Reimkasten, Ulrich (2018).
904:
477:Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
369:meander on a fresco in the
225:) by way of trade with the
10:
1655:
1246:Jones, Denna, ed. (2014).
1220:
1149:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
1099:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
1074:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
938:and its Latinized variant
800:(Strada Icoanei no. 3-5),
471:Colorful late Roman-early
389:Roman meander mosaic of a
249:
1600:
1318:
633:Grand Theater of Bordeaux
140:pottery of ancient Greece
64:
35:, unknown architect, 1883
1153:. Phaidon. p. 257.
1103:. Phaidon. p. 124.
233:Uses in contemporary art
1250:. Thames & Hudson.
1078:. Phaidon. p. 53.
1186:Watkin, David (2022).
657:Père Lachaise Cemetery
498:mosaic meander in the
371:Villa of the Mysteries
227:Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
138:, and in bands on the
48:
36:
25:Dimitrie Sturdza House
1049:Bowden, Hugh (2023).
798:Central Girls' School
594:Halberstadt Cathedral
453:, unknown architect,
447:Chedworth Roman Villa
136:architectural friezes
42:
22:
296:640 BC, terracotta,
134:they appear in many
782:Theophil von Hansen
90:Meaning of the name
328:red-figure pottery
190:Xiajiadian Culture
49:
37:
1624:Culture of Greece
1611:
1610:
1257:978-0-500-29148-1
1238:978-973-0-23884-6
1197:978-1-52942-030-2
1160:978-0-7148-4810-5
1135:978-3-86019-139-2
1110:978-0-7148-4810-5
1085:978-0-7148-4810-5
1060:978-0-500-29727-8
975:(August 1929:48).
661:Pierre Jean David
614:Fenari Isa Mosque
324: 440–435 BC
175:Zhukaigou Culture
114:in linear form".
1646:
1606:
1588:Vitruvian scroll
1305:
1298:
1291:
1282:
1281:
1261:
1242:
1214:
1208:
1202:
1201:
1183:
1177:
1171:
1165:
1164:
1146:
1140:
1139:
1121:
1115:
1114:
1096:
1090:
1089:
1071:
1065:
1064:
1046:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1021:
1015:
1008:
1002:
995:
989:
982:
976:
962:
956:
949:
943:
932:
916:Vitruvian scroll
899:
896:
882:
868:
859:
835:
826:
823:
817:
793:
769:
742:
730:
718:
698:
689:
686:
672:
652:
625:
609:
589:
566:
546:
523:
513:
509:
492:
468:
459:
456:
442:
426:
406:
386:
363:
353:
339:
325:
322:
312:
295:
283:
274:, Czech Republic
260:
224:
221:
213:
209:
206:
202:
198:
195:
187:
183:
180:
168:
164:
161:
144:Geometric period
66:
1654:
1653:
1649:
1648:
1647:
1645:
1644:
1643:
1614:
1613:
1612:
1607:
1598:
1427:Garland bearers
1314:
1309:
1268:
1258:
1239:
1223:
1218:
1217:
1209:
1205:
1198:
1184:
1180:
1172:
1168:
1161:
1147:
1143:
1136:
1122:
1118:
1111:
1097:
1093:
1086:
1072:
1068:
1061:
1047:
1043:
1033:
1031:
1023:
1022:
1018:
1009:
1005:
996:
992:
983:
979:
963:
959:
950:
946:
934:The Greek term
933:
929:
924:
907:
900:
897:
883:
874:
860:
851:
836:
827:
824:
818:
809:
794:
785:
770:
761:
743:
734:
731:
722:
719:
710:
707:Charles Garnier
699:
690:
687:
681:Rue de Provence
673:
664:
653:
644:
626:
617:
610:
601:
590:
581:
567:
558:
547:
538:
524:
515:
493:
484:
475:meander in the
469:
460:
457:
443:
434:
427:
418:
407:
398:
387:
378:
364:
355:
340:
331:
323:
317:Eretria Painter
313:
304:
284:
275:
261:
252:
235:
222:
211:
207:
200:
196:
185:
181:
166:
162:
152:
120:
118:Decorative uses
92:
84:running scrolls
17:
12:
11:
5:
1652:
1642:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1609:
1608:
1601:
1599:
1597:
1596:
1591:
1581:
1579:Trophy of arms
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1530:
1529:
1524:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1424:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1319:
1316:
1315:
1308:
1307:
1300:
1293:
1285:
1279:
1278:
1267:
1266:External links
1264:
1263:
1262:
1256:
1243:
1237:
1222:
1219:
1216:
1215:
1213:, p. 123.
1203:
1196:
1178:
1176:, p. 296.
1166:
1159:
1141:
1134:
1116:
1109:
1091:
1084:
1066:
1059:
1041:
1016:
1003:
990:
977:
957:
944:
926:
925:
923:
920:
919:
918:
913:
906:
903:
902:
901:
891:Bellu Cemetery
884:
877:
875:
871:Musée Galliera
861:
854:
852:
848:Viktor Kovačić
837:
830:
828:
819:
812:
810:
804:, Romania, by
795:
788:
786:
771:
764:
762:
744:
737:
735:
732:
725:
723:
720:
713:
711:
703:Palais Garnier
700:
693:
691:
674:
667:
665:
654:
647:
645:
627:
620:
618:
611:
604:
602:
591:
584:
582:
568:
561:
559:
548:
541:
539:
525:
518:
516:
494:
487:
485:
470:
463:
461:
444:
437:
435:
428:
421:
419:
408:
401:
399:
388:
381:
379:
365:
358:
356:
341:
334:
332:
314:
307:
305:
285:
278:
276:
262:
255:
251:
248:
234:
231:
208: 1000 BC
201: 1600 BC
197: 2200 BC
186: 1400 BC
182: 2000 BC
167: 1045 BC
163: 1600 BC
151:
148:
132:ancient Greece
119:
116:
96:Maeander River
91:
88:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1651:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1634:Visual motifs
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1621:
1619:
1605:
1595:
1592:
1589:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1545:
1542:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1519:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1428:
1425:
1423:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1343:Bead and reel
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1320:
1317:
1313:
1306:
1301:
1299:
1294:
1292:
1287:
1286:
1283:
1276:
1274:
1270:
1269:
1259:
1253:
1249:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1230:
1225:
1224:
1212:
1207:
1199:
1193:
1189:
1182:
1175:
1170:
1162:
1156:
1152:
1145:
1137:
1131:
1127:
1120:
1112:
1106:
1102:
1095:
1087:
1081:
1077:
1070:
1062:
1056:
1052:
1045:
1030:
1026:
1020:
1013:
1007:
1000:
994:
987:
981:
974:
971:
967:
961:
954:
948:
941:
937:
931:
927:
917:
914:
912:
909:
908:
892:
888:
881:
876:
872:
864:
858:
853:
849:
845:
841:
834:
829:
816:
811:
807:
803:
799:
792:
787:
783:
779:
775:
768:
763:
759:
755:
751:
747:
746:Greek Revival
741:
736:
729:
724:
717:
712:
708:
704:
697:
692:
682:
678:
671:
666:
662:
658:
651:
646:
642:
639:, France, by
638:
634:
630:
624:
619:
615:
608:
603:
599:
595:
588:
583:
579:
575:
571:
565:
560:
556:
552:
545:
540:
536:
532:
529:meander from
528:
522:
517:
505:
501:
497:
491:
486:
482:
478:
474:
467:
462:
458: 120 AD
452:
448:
441:
436:
432:
425:
420:
416:
412:
405:
400:
396:
392:
385:
380:
376:
372:
368:
362:
357:
349:
345:
338:
333:
329:
318:
311:
306:
303:
299:
291:
288:
287:Ancient Greek
282:
277:
273:
269:
268:Kinský Palace
265:
259:
254:
253:
247:
245:
241:
230:
228:
223: 202 BC
217:
212: 600 BC
191:
176:
172:
157:
156:Shang bronzes
147:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
115:
113:
109:
105:
102:(present day
101:
97:
87:
85:
80:
79:
74:
70:
62:
58:
54:
46:
41:
34:
30:
26:
21:
1549:Rais-de-cœur
1539:Puer mingens
1486:
1398:Egg-and-dart
1272:
1247:
1228:
1206:
1187:
1181:
1169:
1150:
1144:
1125:
1119:
1100:
1094:
1075:
1069:
1050:
1044:
1032:. Retrieved
1028:
1019:
1011:
1006:
998:
993:
985:
980:
972:
969:
965:
960:
952:
947:
939:
935:
930:
758:Petit Palais
705:, Paris, by
659:, Paris, by
641:Victor Louis
629:Neoclassical
551:Hagia Sophia
531:Chichen Itza
240:Sand drawing
236:
153:
121:
108:Karl Kerenyi
93:
76:
72:
56:
52:
50:
1338:Ball flower
1012:HYPERSEEING
898: 1930
825: 1900
784:, 1873-1883
709:, 1860–1875
688: 1850
643:, 1777-1780
598:Halberstadt
395:Herculaneum
216:Han dynasty
1639:Labyrinths
1618:Categories
1497:Millefleur
1413:Gadrooning
1378:Cornucopia
1353:Branchwork
1348:Blackamoor
1174:Jones 2014
756:and gold,
596:Treasure,
578:Heidelberg
570:Romanesque
391:tepidarium
354:300-150 BC
210: – c.
199: – c.
184: – c.
165: – c.
100:Asia Minor
73:Greek fret
1629:Ornaments
1574:Strapwork
1492:Medallion
1467:Interlace
1447:Guilloché
1442:Grotesque
1437:Green Man
1393:Dog-tooth
1373:Christmas
1368:Cartouche
1358:Bucranium
1333:Arabesque
1312:Ornaments
1029:brown.edu
951:Kerenyi,
936:maíandros
922:Citations
806:Ion Mincu
802:Bucharest
600:, Germany
580:, Germany
496:Byzantine
473:Byzantine
264:Geometric
142:from the
128:Roman art
112:labyrinth
78:Greek key
65:Μαίανδρος
29:Bucharest
1512:Palmette
1507:Moresque
1482:Mascaron
1383:Curlicue
1323:Acanthus
1275:: "Fret"
986:Leonardo
940:meandros
905:See also
863:Art Deco
752:, 1867,
750:Baccarat
637:Bordeaux
557:, Turkey
555:Istanbul
330:, Louvre
57:meandros
1594:Zellige
1559:Rosette
1554:Rinceau
1522:Bulbous
1502:Molding
1487:Meander
1477:Margent
1457:Hilarri
1403:Festoon
1328:Antefix
1221:Sources
1034:6 March
873:, Paris
844:Croatia
760:, Paris
754:crystal
677:lunette
504:Ravenna
481:Ravenna
451:England
433:, Italy
411:Ephesus
375:Pompeii
250:Gallery
53:meander
33:Romania
1584:Volute
1564:Scroll
1472:Lintel
1418:Garden
1388:Dentil
1254:
1235:
1194:
1157:
1132:
1107:
1082:
1057:
911:Mezine
850:, 1927
840:Zagreb
808:, 1890
778:Vienna
663:, 1831
535:Mexico
415:Turkey
348:Turkey
344:Didyma
302:Athens
290:metope
272:Prague
242:, and
188:) and
104:Turkey
45:Rhodes
1544:Putto
1527:Grass
1517:Plant
1432:Girih
887:Doric
846:, by
780:, by
527:Mayan
367:Roman
244:Kolam
171:China
130:. In
124:Greek
69:motif
61:Greek
1569:Spur
1534:Peak
1462:Hood
1422:Lawn
1408:Foil
1363:Buta
1252:ISBN
1233:ISBN
1192:ISBN
1155:ISBN
1130:ISBN
1105:ISBN
1080:ISBN
1055:ISBN
1036:2024
203:and
126:and
1452:Gul
966:hou
514:560
98:in
75:or
55:or
1620::
1027:.
973:27
895:c.
867:c.
842:,
822:c.
776:,
685:c.
635:,
576:,
553:,
533:,
512:c.
508:c.
502:,
479:,
455:c.
449:,
413:,
393:,
373:,
352:c.
346:,
326:,
321:c.
319:,
300:,
294:c.
270:,
220:c.
205:c.
194:c.
179:c.
160:c.
63::
51:A
31:,
1590:)
1586:(
1420:/
1304:e
1297:t
1290:v
1260:.
1241:.
1200:.
1163:.
1138:.
1113:.
1088:.
1063:.
1038:.
218:(
192:(
177:(
158:(
59:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
