History of Labyrinths

Humans have been creating the labyrinth pattern in some form for thousands of years. It appears on Cretan silver coins from Knossos created in 400 BCE and as a doodle on the back of clay tablet by a worker in King Nestor’s palace in 1,200 BCE. It has appeared carved into rocks as petroglyphs throughout Europe and the Americas.

The most popular ancient labyrinth is the one described in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Theseus, with sword and string provided by Ariadne, entered a complex labyrinth to slay the half-man, half-bull offspring of Queen Pasiphae known as the Minotaur.

From the 13 century onward, Nordic labyrinths were seen in multitudes across Scandinavia. The design of the Nordic labyrinth mirrors other countries in Europe, but the “Baltic” variety with double spirals from the center outward relates to traditional Nordic folk customs. Learn more about this region by visiting the Nordic Museum which is the source of the information shared in this section.

Trojaborgs were formed with small-to-large rocks of the area. They are often found near shorelines of fishing settlements, as fishermen would walk the labyrinths before going to sea. This practice was thought to ensure favorable winds, bountiful catches, and to befuddle the smägubbar (meddling trolls) from bothering them on their trip.

Another use for stone labyrinths was for rituals involving virgins. In both Finland and Sweden during the spring, a young virgin maiden stood in the middle of the labyrinth, while young men sought to win her hand by reaching the center of the labyrinth first. This was known as the "Jungfrudans" (virgin dance) game. Source- https://nordicmuseum.org/news/a-brief-history-of-nordic-labyrinths

The preceding history has been culled from a number of sources and is included to allow the curious to start their own walk of discovery. If you are interested in taking a deeper look at the history of labyrinths, I suggest you visit Labyrinthos an organization created by one of the top labyrinth experts of our time, Jeff Saward.

For more than 500 years, Romans decorated their homes with mosaic renderings of labyrinths, many depicting a Minotaur in the center. They were placed near entrances, some think to ward off bad omens.

The eleven circuit medieval labyrinth illustrated here is one of the most famous of its kind. This labyrinth was laid in the early 13th century in Chartres Cathedral, in France. It is one of the best surviving examples of this type of labyrinth. The design is organized into four quadrants symbolic of the cross. It is also an allegory to Christ’s life. This pattern has been made popular, particularly in the United States, by the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress. I contend, as do many, that she is the founder of the modern labyrinth movement.