You are looking at the most famous labyrinth in Medieval history: that of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres. In eleven concentric circles, the path wanders towards the center rosette. This labyrinth dates to about 1200, and is the most complete and largest of its type. The meaning of this maze has been debated — perhaps it was to represent the act of pilgrimage, especially for those unable to walk all the way to far-off destinations like Jerusalem. The center six-lobed rosette has an ancient meaning for the nature of god that goes back to Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Yet another theory is that this labyrinth has symbolic meanings corresponding with other features of the Cathedral: Judgement day, the kingdom of heaven, and even the medieval story of Christ descending to hell are perhaps different components of this interpretation. Eventually the practice of building these sacred mazes grew disreputable, and many Medieval labyrinths were destroyed.
Source(s): _Medieval Studies_, from Loyola University of Chicago, “Labyrinth of Chartres,” image ft 13. _Labyrinths: A History – Memorial Labyrinth – Boston College.
