Ariadne

Ariadne
Ariadne asleep at Hypnos's side. Detail of ancient fresco in Pompeii
AbodeCrete, later Mount Olympus
SymbolString / Thread, Serpent, Bull
Genealogy
ParentsMinos and Pasiphaë (or Crete, daughter of Asterius)
SiblingsAcacallis, Phaedra, Catreus, Deucalion, Glaucus, Androgeus, Xenodice; the Minotaur
ConsortDionysus, Theseus
ChildrenStaphylus, Oenopion, Thoas, Peparethus, Phanus, Eurymedon, Phliasus, Ceramus, Maron, Evanthes, Latramys, Tauropolis, Enyeus and Eunous
Equivalents
RomanLibera

In Greek mythology, Ariadne (/ˌæriˈædni/; ‹See Tfd›Greek: Ἀριάδνη; Latin: Ariadne) was a Cretan princess, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. There are different variations of Ariadne's myth, but she is known for helping Theseus escape from the Minotaur and being abandoned by him on the island of Naxos. There, Dionysus saw Ariadne sleeping, fell in love with her, and later married her. Many versions of the myth recount Dionysus throwing Ariadne's jeweled crown into the sky to create a constellation, the Corona Borealis.[1][2]

Ariadne is associated with mazes and labyrinths because of her involvement in the myths of Theseus and the Minotaur.

There are also festivals held in Cyprus and Naxos in Ariadne's honor.[3][4]

  1. ^ Hall, James (4 May 2018). Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-97358-1.
  2. ^ "Corona Borealis | constellation". britannica.com. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^ Plutarch. "Life of Theseus". penelope.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ "LacusCurtius • Greek Festivals — Ariadneia". Smith's Dictionary. 1875. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via penelope.uchicago.edu.

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