daughter of Minos king of Crete. Theseus being sent to destroy the Minotaur, Ariadne was taken with him, that, as a testimony of her love, she gave Theseus a clue of thread to guide him out of the labyrinth. Theseus, having killed the Minotaur, carried off the Athenians he had relieved, together with Ariadne: whom, however, he afterwards forsook.