ARIADNE (the daughter of Minos in Greek mythology)

When Theseus came to Crete, Ariadne fell in love with him, captivated by his physical appearance and his athletic skill in defeating opponents.^8,9 She offered to help Theseus if he agreed to take her to Athens as his wife, asking Daedalus to reveal the exit path from the labyrinth.¹ Ariadne gave Theseus a thread and instructed him on how to find his way through the Labyrinth, rescuing him from dangerous contests with kind intentions.^10,8,2 Her influence was such that Minos was well inclined to Theseus because of her, and she made a truce with the Athenian leader.^5,11

After the Minotaur's death, Ariadne sailed away with Theseus and the young men, leaving her fatherland by boarding a ship.^2,8 Theseus abandoned Ariadne because he fell in love with another woman, an act described as dishonorable and indecent.^12,13 Ariadne was left on the island of Dia by Theseus, where she was pregnant and suffering from severe illness due to the rough sea voyage.^14,15 Local women took Ariadne into their care, attempted to comfort her loneliness, gave her forged letters claiming to be from Theseus, assisted her during her labor pains, and provided her with a burial after her death.¹⁵ Ariadne reportedly lived with Oenarus, a priest of Dionysus, on Naxos.¹²

Dionysus took Ariadne away from the island during the night and took her as his wife in Naxos.^14,16,10,17 She is described as his partner in the birth of Ceramus, and she bore Dionysus a son named Staphylus, as well as a son named Thoas.^10,17,13 Ariadne is the mother of Oenopion, and some accounts claim she bore a son named Oenopion to Theseus.^18,19,20 Dionysus made Ariadne deathless and unageing.⁶

Ariadne's loss caused Theseus to forget changing his ship's sails to white, and he experienced deep sorrow because of her.^21,22 Theseus left money with the islanders to ensure sacrifices were made to her and ordered the creation of silver and bronze statuettes in her honor.²³ Ariadne was transformed into a crown of stars in the sky.^2,8 An earthenware coffin containing Ariadne was reportedly found during a temple rebuild, and Lyceas claimed he and other Argives personally saw it.²⁴