The medieval labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France lies at the heart of a renaissance in the spiritual use of labyrinths, some 800 years after it was originally constructed
Photo: Jeff Saward
Labyrinths are a potent symbol in many cultures,
and have been for thousands of years. When Theseus killed the Minotaur
he defeated the beast at the heart of darkness - and created a myth that
is still vibrant and evolving. Roman mosaics often depicted labyrinths
as fortified cities, while in medieval Europe they symbolised the one
true path to Christian salvation. They have been used as ceremonial pathways,
protective sigils, traps for unwelcome spirits and for games and dancing.
Puzzle mazes have been exercising our feet and entertaining our minds
for hundreds of years - and have become a symbol of confusion.
Today, mazes and labyrinths are more popular than ever before. Their imagery is used in games, films and advertising, and hundreds of new and innovative puzzle mazes have been built to entertain visitors within the last thirty or so years. During this time there has also been a remarkable resurgence of interest in the spiritual and artistic use of labyrinths. Most recently the internet has been very influential in spurring on these revivals of both mazes and labyrinth, and of course, the Web is often seen as a tangled labyrinth of links that ensnare the unwary!
Below are a series of articles and items from our extensive archives
that will explain a little of the history of labyrinths and mazes, and
the mysterious way in which they have captivated the imagination, worldwide,
for over 4000 years. These links, however, are winding and circuitous,
like the paths that lead towards the centre of the labyrinth: enter and
be amazed…
