Buzz
It's crucial not to mix up labyrinths with mazes. While mazes are intricate puzzles with multiple paths, labyrinths feature a single, unbranched route that leads to a central point. These enigmatic structures began appearing around the globe thousands of years ago.
Labyrinths have long served as places of spiritual significance and healing. Many cultures view them as symbols marking the boundary between the realms of life and death. They are also used for meditation and the fulfillment of wishes. Even today, they remain one of the most widespread and mysterious emblems.
10. Bolshoi Zayatsky
The Russian White Sea is home to the densest concentration of Neolithic labyrinths in the world, with the Solovetsky Islands alone boasting 35 of these ancient structures. Dating back 3,000 years, they are known as vavilons ("Babylons") to the locals.
Bolshoi Zayatsky Island hosts the most renowned labyrinths in the archipelago. Fourteen distinct structures are clustered within an area of less than 0.5 square kilometers (0.2 mi). The stone arrangements form spirals that resemble serpents, their heads positioned at the center. The largest labyrinth spans over 25 meters (82 ft) in diameter, while the smallest measures about 6 meters (20 ft).
All of Bolshoi Zayatsky’s labyrinths are located on the western side of the island. The eastern side features various rock formations, but none are classified as labyrinths.
In the 1970s, Russian researchers suggested that the labyrinths may have functioned as fish traps when sea levels were much higher 5,000 years ago. However, other theories propose that the labyrinths served as tools for tracking the Sun and Moon’s orbits and acted as calendars.
9. Indian-Greek Connections
In August 2015, archaeologists revealed that a 2,000-year-old Indian labyrinth featured a pattern identical to one found on Greek clay tablets dating back to 1200 BC. Located in Gedimedu, the square labyrinth spans 17 meters (56 ft) on each side.
The labyrinth’s pathways range from 1.1 meters (3.6 ft) to 0.8 meters (2.6 ft) in width. This remarkable discovery was made along an ancient trade route linking Alagankulam and Palakkad Gap. Nearby, terra-cotta lamps and semiprecious stones indicate the area's historical wealth.
The Greek version from Pylos, dated 800 years after the Indian labyrinth, is believed to be the oldest known depiction of a seven-circuit labyrinth in clay. The Gedimedu labyrinth is the second-largest in India. In 2014, archaeologists announced the discovery of an even larger labyrinth in Tamil Nadu.
In India, it is customary to paint kolams (“labyrinths”) on the entrances of homes. These intricate designs are not only believed to have magical powers, but are also thought to ward off evil spirits.
8. Chartres
For 2,500 years, Chartres has remained one of France’s most revered sacred sites. Druids honored the location, and Christians later built a cathedral atop it.
Celtic priests believed that the land here emitted powerful energy and held a special reverence for its underground waters, which were thought to have healing properties. Construction of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Chartres began in AD 1194 and took 25 years to complete, becoming a true marvel of Gothic architecture.
In 1205, a labyrinth was created within the Chartres Cathedral using ancient stones that had been repurposed. Stretching 294 meters (964 ft) long and over 13 meters (42 ft) in diameter, this labyrinth has been walked by monks and pilgrims in deep reflection ever since.
The exact reason for the construction of the Chartres labyrinth remains unclear. A 2001 excavation aimed to prove that the labyrinth’s center was the burial site for the masons who built it. However, the digging yielded no evidence to support this theory.
7. Man In The Maze
In Southwestern Native American tradition, I’itoi is a mischievous creator god who shaped the ancestors of both the Tohono O’Odham and Pima tribes. The well-known “Man in the Maze” design features I’itoi at the entrance of a labyrinth, symbolizing the cycle of life and the choices we make. This motif has been widely used by Navajo silversmiths and Pima and Tohono O’Odham basket weavers since the early 1900s.
These Southwestern labyrinth designs almost always feature seven circuits. A circle at the center symbolizes death and eternal life. The pathways start at the outer edge and wind toward the center, with each major turn guiding away from the central circle.
Though there are common interpretations of the “Man in the Maze” design, its meaning is not fixed. In basket weaving, an intentional mistake known as a dau (“door”) is included, allowing the spirit of the basket to escape.
6. Hollywood Stone
In 1908, ferret hunters discovered a stone covered with a labyrinth pattern in County Wicklow, Ireland. Known as the “Hollywood Stone,” it stands 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) tall and 0.9 meters (3.0 ft) wide, found lying facedown on a grassy path. A small portion of the labyrinth, measuring 70 centimeters (28 in) in diameter, is missing.
The Christian design suggests the Hollywood Stone dates back to the Medieval period. Its exact purpose remains a mystery, but some believe it may have been connected to the pilgrimage site of Glendalough, potentially marking a “station.”
For thousands of years, labyrinths have been linked to pilgrimages. These journeys are often lengthy, costly, and perilous. For those unable to afford a trip to the Holy Land, alternatives were sought.
At one point, two pilgrimages to Glendalough were considered spiritually equivalent to a single journey to Jerusalem. Over time, the ratio changed, with seven Glendalough pilgrimages thought to equal one pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
5. Jericho Labyrinths
The Jericho labyrinth stands as one of the most enigmatic Christian symbols. Multiple medieval texts mention “Uruem Gericho” (“City of Jericho”) as a seven-circuit labyrinth inspired by Crete.
The reason behind the widespread use of this motif remains uncertain. Some believe it may relate to the biblical passage: “By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.” Many Greek manuscripts credit King Solomon with the creation of the Jericho labyrinth.
The earliest known Jericho labyrinth appeared in a manuscript found at the monastery of Abruzzi, Italy. Dated to AD 822, the original square labyrinth was later redrawn as a circle.
Christianity’s first recorded use of labyrinths can be traced to San Reparatus in El Asnam, Algeria. Dated to the fourth century AD, this ancient labyrinth is considered Christian due to the words in its center: Sancta Eclesia (“Holy Church”).
4. Labyrinth of the Blue Virgin
Bla Jungfrun, or “The Blue Virgin,” is a secluded island in the Kalmar Strait off the eastern coast of Sweden. Known for its supernatural reputation, the island still warns visitors to stay on the designated paths, with strict prohibitions against lingering after dark.
Among the many mysterious features of this rocky island surrounded by dense forests is its labyrinth. The Trolleborg labyrinth, Sweden's largest, stands as a captivating enigma.
There are many theories about the Trolleborg labyrinth's significance, with some suggesting it ties to Bla Jungfrun’s role in the fishing industry. Labyrinths are especially common on Scandinavian archipelagos, often linked to themes of fertility or good fortune.
The origin of the Trolleborg labyrinth remains a mystery. By the 18th century, it was already in place, though there are indications that it may have been constructed long before. In 2015, archaeologists uncovered 'distinct ritual features' in caves on The Blue Virgin Island, with evidence suggesting dates as far back as 7000 BC.
3. Minotaur's Labyrinth
The most iconic labyrinth in the world may not actually be a labyrinth at all. Greek mythology tells of King Minos of Crete, who commissioned Daedalus to construct the first labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur—a monstrous creature born from the union of the Cretan queen and a bull.
The Minotaur's 'labyrinth' is actually a subterranean maze, which the hero Theseus navigated using a ball of string. For centuries, people have speculated on the true inspiration behind the legend.
Locals suggest that an ancient quarry cave near Gortyn served as the basis for this myth. Spanning nearly 3 kilometers (2 miles), the 'Labyrinth Cave' consists of a series of corridors and rooms that seemingly lead nowhere.
English archaeologist Arthur Evans took a different stance. Drawing on Greek texts from the second century AD, he proposed that the labyrinth was situated beneath the palace at Knossos. French archaeologist Paul Faure, however, argued that the cave Agia Paraskevi near Skotino was the more likely source of the labyrinth legend.
2. Stone Age Danish Labyrinth
In 2017, Danish archaeologists uncovered a set of mysterious Stone Age palisades that once surrounded an ancient labyrinth. Dating back to the Neolithic period, the oval enclosure at Stevns covers nearly 18,000 square meters (195,000 sq ft).
Despite the discovery, researchers suggest that the Stevns structure may have had another function. The design of the enclosure's entrances was characterized by an intentionally uneven arrangement of five outward-stretching rows.
Palisades are usually built for protection, but in this case, the poles were only 2 meters (7 ft) tall and spaced widely enough that a person could easily pass through. The uneven placement of the poles meant that one couldn’t see into the central area.
This secrecy likely served a purpose in ritual settings, allowing the activities within the labyrinth to remain concealed. So far, no additional structures have been uncovered at Stevns, though only a small portion of the site has been excavated.
1. Casa Grande Mystery
Among the most debated labyrinths in the world is the one located in Arizona’s Casa Grande ruins. In 1694, Padre Kino embarked on a journey to locate the famed "Great House" along the Gila River. He found "a four-story structure, as vast as a castle and on par with the finest churches in Sonora."
On the northern wall of the building, there is an intricate labyrinth design. For many years, this was considered the only labyrinth known in the Americas. However, it shares remarkable similarities with labyrinth patterns seen on 2,000-year-old Cretan coins.
The idea that such a complex design could have been created by mere accident was considered "almost negligible" by the National Park Service. However, in 1961, the journal Kiva published research revealing the discovery of a labyrinth at Gila County's Upper Ruin at Tonto, which was "unquestionably prehistoric in context." For the first time, evidence emerged supporting the theory that the Casa Grande labyrinth might have predated Columbus.
