Images like those above have appeared all over the world at different times, and apparently with different interpretations by the local culture. Some used them, apparently, as a way of recalling sacred stories; others as an emblem of identity; others as an aid to ritual and spiritual experiences.
The one on the left is similar to those found in mosaics in ancient Rome, sometimes on the floor or wall of a wealthy Roman's house, sometimes in smaller version on a door. The center one, sometimes known as the Classical or Cretan labyrinth, is the style found in anicent Crete, on ancient Greek coins, and also like those in Scandinavian fishing villages on the ground in large areas as well as in Celtic inhabited lands of Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The one on the right, also known as the Chartres labyrinth, is a photo taken of the floor on Chartres Cathedral in France. Labyrinths like these were built into the floors of Cathdrals during the 12th-15th centuries, and seem to have been used a prayer and meditation devices--as a way of making pilgrimmage without having to leave town! These and those that were built with rock or turf on large areas outdoors were apparently walked as a meditation device, as a ritual prayer, and also hosted other unknown kinds of rituals.
There is some speculation from the Aeneid that Romans at one time had a spectacular demonstration where skilled horsemen rode their horses in the weaving pattern of the labyrinth. If the labyrinth were large enough to do this and there were enough horses, the visual effect would be spectacular.
Two interesting connections with the labyrinth can be the focus of building, drawing or creating labyrinths in Latin classroom or as a part of club activities. One is the story of Theseus and the minotaur. Many ancient renderings of the labyrinth show the minotaur at the center of the labyrinth. The various versions of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur offer a reflection on the use and abuse of power, how children and young people are treated in a society. Walking or drawinng a labyrinth becomes a meditation or reflection on how I encounter power in my life, who seems to hold it, what "monsters" I face, what help I receive in dealing with my "monsters", and so forth.
The second is the simple observation that in Britain and Wales, the labyrinth is referred in in Welsh as "Caerdroia" which translates as "City of Troy". This is strange, except that ancient Rome itself held as one of its stories of origins to be that refugees from the destroyed city of Troy, i.e. Aeneas and his band of ships, settled what would become "Rome". Is it possible that this ancient symbol, found both in Rome and Wales, where it is called "City of Troy" is a symbol of the ancient journey from death into new life? A recurring them in the sacred stories both of the Romans and the Celts is birth, life, death and rebirth, most often represented by circles. So, making an outdoor labyrinth, or drawing one can become a reflection on how we encounter episodes of death and rebirth every day.
Here are some links that you can use both in the classroom and for personal use:
I wrote some reflections to use while walking a labyrinth based on the Troy reference and on the Theseus story.
Labryinth Reflection: Journey to New Troy
Labyrinth Reflection: Slaying the Minotaur--Facing a Crisis
The International Labyrinth Society You can learn to draw the classical labyrinth on the ILS website.
Labyrinths and Mazes Some really wonderful pictures of all kinds of labyrinths and interesting collection of their history.
A Web of Labyrinths A photjournal of a labyrinth building project at a communicty college.
The Labyrinth Life lessons from a counselor in Macon, GA and a variety of ways that people are using the labyrinth to nourish their lives.
Georgia Labyrinths A directory of labyrinths in Georgia, some open to the public, and lots of photos.
Online labyrinth Grace Cathedral in San Francisco provides this virtual replica of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth to "walk" with you mouse and animation.
Virtual Labyrinths Two different virtual labyrinths using Java which you can download for free from the site if you don't have it. These are examples of modern adaptations of this ancient symbol.