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design, although these terms are modern designations; this 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 the many
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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,
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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
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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.
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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
30:
808:
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831:
Neoclassical meander on a stove tile from a house in
Bucharest, on display during an exhibition in the Bucharest City Hall, unknown designer,
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240:. A meander motif also appears in prehistoric Mayan design motifs in the western hemisphere, centuries before any European contacts.
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meander on a page from the
Petershausener Sakramentar, 960-980, tempera colors, gold paint, gold leaf, and ink on parchment,
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Neoclassical meander border of a ceiling of the Salon du glacier in the Palais
Garnier, by Charles Garnier, 1860–1875
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1025:, Summer 2009, pp. 37–41. Published by ISAMA, The International Society for the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture.
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106:
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Romanesque meander of a tapestry with Saint
Michael fighting with the dragon, 1146-1155, linen yarn, wool, linen,
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Byzantine brick meander on the facade of the Church of the
Thetokos tou Libos of Constantine Lips, currently the
278:
150:
1532:
1502:
225:), frequently there is speculation that meanders of Greek origin may have come to China during the time of the
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Neoclassical meander border of a floor of the Moon Salon in the Palais
Garnier, by Charles Garnier, 1860–1875
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82:. Among some Italians, these patterns are known as "Greek Lines". Such a design may also be called the
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1288:—a short description, with a list of links to photographs of meander designs in art and architecture
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Neoclassical meander on a wall of Stock
Exchange Building (Trg hrvatskih velikana no. 3) of
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or, following the etymological origin of the term, may be identified as water wave motifs.
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Byzantine meander on the south-west door, unknown architect or sculptor, 829-842, bronze,
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Ancient Greek meanders on the base of a column from the ruins of the Temple of Apollo at
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78:) is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated
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On one hand, the name "meander" recalls the twisting and turning path of the
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Yang Liu, "Cross-culturalism in painting: visualization via meanders",
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A typical Attic red-figure cup with meander pattern at borders, by the
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Yang Liu, "Visual art as research: Explorations with sona drawings",
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1139:(in German). Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle. p. 17.
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Celac, Mariana; Carabela, Octavian; Marcu-Lapadat, Marius (2017).
254:
181:
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Neoclassical meander border on the ceiling of the Grave of Foy,
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1221:
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at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, in "A Chinese Bronze",
117:) that is typical of river pathways. On another hand, as
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are not very common outside of archaeological contexts.
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meander border of the railing from the stairway of the
900:
column capital of the Vasile I. Prodanof family tomb,
303:
with three women that have meanders on their clothes,
627:, Istanbul, unknown architect, 907, refounded in 1287
1021:
Yang Liu, "From sona drawings to contemporary art",
277:
bowl decorated with a meander, 730–720 BC, ceramic,
964:Dionysos: archetypal image of indestructible life
876:dress decorated with meanders, unknown producer,
712:Neoclassical meander border on a ceiling of the
494:, Italy, unknown architect or craftsman, 425-450
180:), and many traditional buildings in and around
690:of the Ensemble immobilier de la cité d'Antin (
1307:
121:pointed out, "the meander is the figure of a
8:
1162:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
1112:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
1087:The Glory of Byzantium and early Christendom
58:, Greece, in pavement made from beach stones
1240:Bucharest Architecture - an annotated guide
440:Roman meander on a mosaic, 1st century BC,
428:, unknown architect or sculptor, 117-118 AD
133:Meanders are common decorative elements in
1314:
1300:
1292:
999:, April 2010, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 129–131.
420:Roman meander on the Temple of Hadrianus,
975:See J. E. L., description of a Late Chou
880:1925, georgette, and crochet embroidery,
517:, Italy, unknown architect or craftsman,
34:Meander (or Greek key) on a stove in the
1222:Celac, Carabela & Marcu-Lapadat 2017
408:, Italy, unknown architect, unknown date
388:, Italy, unknown painter, 1st century BC
93:versions with rounded shapes are called
49:
29:
938:
896:Neoclassical and Art Deco meander on a
807:Neoclassical meander on a floor in the
264:
27:Decorative continuous line border motif
1184:
966:(Princeton University Press) 1976:89.
7:
1284:Illustrated Architecture Dictionary
1012:, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, pp. 205–214.
981:Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts
694:no. 59), Paris, unknown architect,
456:Roman meander on a mosaic from the
1242:. Order of Architects of Romania.
1062:Mystery Cults in the Ancient World
25:
1199:A History of Western Architecture
759:vase with a meander, produced by
521:500, with later alterations from
511:Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
361:, unknown architect or sculptor,
1613:
1137:Perspektiven Der Textilen Künste
904:, Bucharest, unknown architect,
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54:Meander motif in the streets of
1064:. London: Thames & Hudson.
1010:Journal of Visual Arts Practice
38:(Strada Arthur Verona no. 13),
1201:. Laurence King. p. 490.
783:Greek Revival meanders on the
442:Archaeological Museum of Milan
309:National Archaeological Museum
161:Labyrinthine meanders in China
1:
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585:Heidelberg University Library
548:, unknown architect, 750–1050
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1259:Architecture The Whole Story
1036:"Temple of Apollo at Didyma"
785:Austrian Parliament Building
686:Neoclassical meander in the
257:) in many of her paintings.
1135:Reimkasten, Ulrich (2018).
488:Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
380:meander on a fresco in the
236:) by way of trade with the
1666:
1257:Jones, Denna, ed. (2014).
1160:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
1110:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
1085:Eastmond, Anthony (2013).
949:and its Latinized variant
811:(Strada Icoanei no. 3-5),
482:Colorful late Roman-early
400:Roman meander mosaic of a
1611:
1329:
644:Grand Theater of Bordeaux
151:pottery of ancient Greece
75:
46:, unknown architect, 1883
1164:. Phaidon. p. 257.
1114:. Phaidon. p. 124.
244:Uses in contemporary art
1261:. Thames & Hudson.
1089:. Phaidon. p. 53.
1197:Watkin, David (2022).
668:Père Lachaise Cemetery
509:mosaic meander in the
382:Villa of the Mysteries
238:Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
149:, and in bands on the
59:
47:
36:Dimitrie Sturdza House
1060:Bowden, Hugh (2023).
809:Central Girls' School
605:Halberstadt Cathedral
464:, unknown architect,
458:Chedworth Roman Villa
147:architectural friezes
53:
33:
307:640 BC, terracotta,
145:they appear in many
793:Theophil von Hansen
101:Meaning of the name
339:red-figure pottery
201:Xiajiadian Culture
60:
48:
1635:Culture of Greece
1622:
1621:
1268:978-0-500-29148-1
1249:978-973-0-23884-6
1208:978-1-52942-030-2
1171:978-0-7148-4810-5
1146:978-3-86019-139-2
1121:978-0-7148-4810-5
1096:978-0-7148-4810-5
1071:978-0-500-29727-8
986:(August 1929:48).
672:Pierre Jean David
625:Fenari Isa Mosque
335: 440–435 BC
186:Zhukaigou Culture
125:in linear form".
18:Greek key pattern
16:(Redirected from
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1277:External links
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212: 1600 BC
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197: 1400 BC
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178: 1045 BC
174: 1600 BC
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107:Maeander River
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1560:Rais-de-cœur
1550:Puer mingens
1497:
1409:Egg-and-dart
1283:
1258:
1239:
1217:
1198:
1192:
1180:
1161:
1155:
1136:
1130:
1111:
1105:
1086:
1080:
1061:
1055:
1043:. Retrieved
1039:
1030:
1022:
1017:
1009:
1004:
996:
991:
983:
980:
976:
971:
963:
958:
950:
946:
941:
769:Petit Palais
716:, Paris, by
670:, Paris, by
652:Victor Louis
640:Neoclassical
562:Hagia Sophia
542:Chichen Itza
251:Sand drawing
247:
164:
132:
119:Karl Kerenyi
104:
87:
83:
67:
63:
61:
1349:Ball flower
1023:HYPERSEEING
909: 1930
836: 1900
795:, 1873-1883
720:, 1860–1875
699: 1850
654:, 1777-1780
609:Halberstadt
406:Herculaneum
227:Han dynasty
1650:Labyrinths
1629:Categories
1508:Millefleur
1424:Gadrooning
1389:Cornucopia
1364:Branchwork
1359:Blackamoor
1185:Jones 2014
767:and gold,
607:Treasure,
589:Heidelberg
581:Romanesque
402:tepidarium
365:300-150 BC
221: – c.
210: – c.
195: – c.
176: – c.
111:Asia Minor
84:Greek fret
1640:Ornaments
1585:Strapwork
1503:Medallion
1478:Interlace
1458:Guilloché
1453:Grotesque
1448:Green Man
1404:Dog-tooth
1384:Christmas
1379:Cartouche
1369:Bucranium
1344:Arabesque
1323:Ornaments
1040:brown.edu
962:Kerenyi,
947:maíandros
933:Citations
817:Ion Mincu
813:Bucharest
611:, Germany
591:, Germany
507:Byzantine
484:Byzantine
275:Geometric
153:from the
139:Roman art
123:labyrinth
89:Greek key
76:Μαίανδρος
40:Bucharest
1523:Palmette
1518:Moresque
1493:Mascaron
1394:Curlicue
1334:Acanthus
1286:: "Fret"
997:Leonardo
951:meandros
916:See also
874:Art Deco
763:, 1867,
761:Baccarat
648:Bordeaux
568:, Turkey
566:Istanbul
341:, Louvre
68:meandros
1605:Zellige
1570:Rosette
1565:Rinceau
1533:Bulbous
1513:Molding
1498:Meander
1488:Margent
1468:Hilarri
1414:Festoon
1339:Antefix
1232:Sources
1045:6 March
884:, Paris
855:Croatia
771:, Paris
765:crystal
688:lunette
515:Ravenna
492:Ravenna
462:England
444:, Italy
422:Ephesus
386:Pompeii
261:Gallery
64:meander
44:Romania
1595:Volute
1575:Scroll
1483:Lintel
1429:Garden
1399:Dentil
1265:
1246:
1205:
1168:
1143:
1118:
1093:
1068:
922:Mezine
861:, 1927
851:Zagreb
819:, 1890
789:Vienna
674:, 1831
546:Mexico
426:Turkey
359:Turkey
355:Didyma
313:Athens
301:metope
283:Prague
253:, and
199:) and
115:Turkey
56:Rhodes
1555:Putto
1538:Grass
1528:Plant
1443:Girih
898:Doric
857:, by
791:, by
538:Mayan
378:Roman
255:Kolam
182:China
141:. In
135:Greek
80:motif
72:Greek
1580:Spur
1545:Peak
1473:Hood
1433:Lawn
1419:Foil
1374:Buta
1263:ISBN
1244:ISBN
1203:ISBN
1166:ISBN
1141:ISBN
1116:ISBN
1091:ISBN
1066:ISBN
1047:2024
214:and
137:and
1463:Gul
977:hou
525:560
109:in
86:or
66:or
1631::
1038:.
984:27
906:c.
878:c.
853:,
833:c.
787:,
696:c.
646:,
587:,
564:,
544:,
523:c.
519:c.
513:,
490:,
466:c.
460:,
424:,
404:,
384:,
363:c.
357:,
337:,
332:c.
330:,
311:,
305:c.
281:,
231:c.
216:c.
205:c.
190:c.
171:c.
74::
62:A
42:,
1601:)
1597:(
1431:/
1315:e
1308:t
1301:v
1271:.
1252:.
1211:.
1174:.
1149:.
1124:.
1099:.
1074:.
1049:.
229:(
203:(
188:(
169:(
70:(
20:)
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