ARIADNEA, festivals solemnized at Naxos and Cyprus in honour of Ariadne. Some Naxian writers recognized two distinct persons of this name; one who was married to Bacchus in Naxos and deified after death, the other deserted by Theseus. The festivals of each, accordingly, were attended with rites of a very opposite nature; those of the first being celebrated with music and other expressions of mirth, whereas the latter were observed with a show of mourning. This festival is said to have been instituted by Theseus, to atone for his ingratitude to Ariadne.—Plutarch. in Thes.
ARIADNE was the daughter of Minos king of Crete, and Pasiphae. Falling deeply in love with Theseus when he arrived in Crete to deliver the young Athenians from the Minotaur, she gave him a clue of thread by which he was enabled to escape from the intricate mazes of the labyrinth. Theseus slew the monster, and carried off Ariadne and her young companions; but on landing at Naxos he treacherously abandoned her, though pregnant, and pursued his course. Ariadne, overwhelmed with grief, destroyed herself. According to another tradition, the god Bacchus found her in Naxos, and filled with amazement at her surpassing beauty, made her his wife; and at her death he placed her bridal crown among the stars.
Several versions of this popular story are given in the Theseus of Plutarch. It was a favourite theme with the poets of antiquity, and furnished the subject of many exquisite works of ancient art; as also in later times it has employed the pencil of Titian and other eminent masters.