Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

wallpaper.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 38 posts

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#21

Post by pixelatedindex »

mdp2021 wrote: post #19
Markoff wrote: post #15

Can someone please tell me how is it different from any other labyrinth and what makes it special (because it's memorial to some writer?)? I looked at photos and besides curved corners don't really see anything special.

Look at its scheme from above https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFhmPUzXwoyNXtWmfaeGCb-102... > memorial Well yes, Borges was especially fond of labyrinths. And Borges is not just any writer: his process and language is indelible to anyone who read him, especially in formative years.

It even almost reads like “Borges”, at least on the top. The design is remarkable.

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#22

Post by mdp2021 »

pixelatedindex wrote: post #21
mdp2021 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at its scheme from above https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFhmPUzXwoyNXtWmfaeGCb-102... > memorial Well yes, Borges was especially fond of labyrinths. And Borges is not just any writer: his process and language is indelible to anyone who read him, especially in formative years.

It even almost reads like “Borges”, at least on the top. The design is remarkable.

You spoiled it for the OP, to whom we were trying to give hints ;)

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#23

Post by mdp2021 »

BLKNSLVR wrote: post #10

I don't think I've come across anything related to Borges that hasn't been worth reading. I really need to investigate him more. My first introduction was the 'Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge'[0], from which I will never forget "those that tremble as if they were mad" And in rare scenarios I've found 'On Exactitude in Science'[1] to be pertinent. The thing itself is it's own map (maybe even: the code _is_…

Have you read El Aleph and Ficciones?

Have you read Libro del cielo y del infierno, and El libro de los seres imaginarios, and Cuentos breves y extraordinarios?

The poetry is also very, very worth it.

And there is a recording of Borges reading a selection of his own poems. (Of which do not miss, for example, "El Golem").

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#25

Post by mdp2021 »

AngryData wrote: post #2

Well I guess its neat they added a tactile map for the blind at the beginning of the maze, except the solid hard barrier at the bottom within the very narrow spaces and with hard corners is a massive tripping hazard even for people who can see.

> I guess its neat

I guess it is a direct idea given the structure is there to celebrate a blind master.

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#26

Post by simiones »

nottorp wrote: post #9
crabmusket wrote: post #4

What a coincidence - I'm currently reading his collection Labyrinths . If you've enjoyed the short stories of Ted Chiang I'd highly recommend it.

Or chronologically, you may like Ted Chiang if you like Borges. I mean, who was there first?

This comes off as claiming that no one could possibly read Harry Potter if they haven't read The Illiad yet, nor the Illiad if they haven't read the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#27

Post by loevborg »

I was on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore last year and was disappointed that I wasn't able to see the labyrinth. Also if I remember correctly the tower of the church wasn't accessible due to renovations. I'm glad to hear that the labyrinth is getting reopened. In general there's so much so see in Venice, and most of it is not overcrowded at all once you skip the top 10 sights that get visits by mass tourism.

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#28

Post by crabmusket »

schaefer wrote: post #5

I love this book so much (Labyrinths, by Borges). I once calculated the number of books in The Library of Bable, and had to try a number of numerical libraries to do so. one after another they kept puking on the large integers. I also think of "the secret miracle" often.

Here is someone's attempt at calculating the volume of the library:

https://canterburybookstore.com/new-content/2024/11/22/how-b...

Spoilers: it's big. Vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big. You might think it's a long way across the diameter of the observable universe but that's just peanuts compared to the library.

Also, a fun website:

https://libraryofbabel.info/

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#29

Post by Laurel1234 »

mdp2021 wrote: post #18
a_number_of_his wrote: post #8

It's not a labyrinth though!? Begin argument https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth

The original labyrinth in Knossos was (according to some) was the royal Minoan palace on Crete, with structure so intricate it was a maze. The labrys is the double-edged axe, symbol of power, at its gate. Labyrinth is many things - substantially a maze (not e.g. a subset of it like specific shape).

[dead]

Re: Borges Labyrinth in Venice reopens to the public

#30

Post by Markoff »

devindotcom wrote: post #17
Markoff wrote: post #15

Can someone please tell me how is it different from any other labyrinth and what makes it special (because it's memorial to some writer?)? I looked at photos and besides curved corners don't really see anything special.

nothing about its shape strikes you?

I saw it, but don't find it particularly interesting, seems more like form over function in case of labyrinth.
Post reply on HN