Ariadne facts for kids
Ariadne is a famous princess from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of King Minos of Crete and his queen, Pasiphaë. Pasiphaë was the daughter of Helios, the powerful Sun-titan.
Ariadne is best known for helping the hero Theseus. She gave him a special string to escape the Minotaur's maze. Even though she helped him, Theseus later left her. After this, she became the wife of the god Dionysus. Ariadne is sometimes seen as the Greek goddess of passion and mazes.
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Ariadne's Story in Mythology
Ancient Greek myths were often told by speaking, so there are many different versions of Ariadne's story.
One popular story from Athens tells us that Minos attacked Athens. This happened after his son, Androgeus, was killed there. To make peace, the Athenians had to send 7 young men and 7 young women to Crete. These young people were sacrificed to the scary Minotaur every few years.
One year, the hero Theseus was part of this group. He was the son of King Aegeus and volunteered to go. His plan was to kill the Minotaur.
When Ariadne first saw Theseus, she fell in love with him. She decided to help him. Ariadne gave Theseus a sword and a ball of thread. This thread is famously known as "Ariadne's string." It helped Theseus find his way out of the Minotaur's confusing labyrinth after he killed the beast.
Ariadne chose to help Theseus, even though it meant betraying her father and her country. After Theseus killed the Minotaur, she ran away with him.
Most stories say that Theseus later left Ariadne on the island of Naxos. Some myths even say that the hero Perseus hurt her badly. Other versions explain that the god Dionysus wanted Ariadne as his wife. This is why Theseus left her behind.
Ariadne and the Island of Naxos
In many versions of the myth, including those by the poet Hesiod, Theseus left Ariadne sleeping on the island of Naxos. It was there that Dionysus found her. He fell in love with her and they got married.
In a few stories, Dionysus actually appeared to Theseus as they sailed from Crete. Dionysus told Theseus that he had chosen Ariadne to be his wife. He demanded that Theseus leave her on Naxos for him.
Ariadne and Dionysus had several famous children together. These included Oenopion, Staphylus, and Thoas. As a special wedding gift, Dionysus placed Ariadne's wedding diadem (a type of crown) in the sky. It became the constellation we know as Corona Borealis.
Ariadne was a loyal wife to Dionysus. In one version of her myth, Perseus turned her to stone with the head of Medusa. This happened at Argos during a conflict between Perseus and Dionysus.
Festivals Honoring Ariadne
There were special festivals called Ariadneia (pronounced ah-ree-AD-nee-ah) that honored Ariadne. These celebrations were held in places like Naxos and Cyprus.
According to the writer Plutarch, some people on Naxos believed there were actually two Ariadnes. One of them supposedly died on Naxos after Theseus abandoned her. The Ariadneia festival on Naxos honored this belief with sacrifices and mourning. It marked Naxos as the place where she died.
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In Spanish: Ariadna para niños
