Ariadne and Theseus

Ariadne, in Greek mythology, was the daughter of Minos, King of Crete. Her father put her in charge of the gigantic maze, the Labyrinth, that housed the Minotaur. Since ancient Greek myths were passed down through oral tradition, many variations of this myth exist. According to an Athenian version of the legend, Minos attacked Athens after his son was killed there. The Athenians asked for terms, and were required to sacrifice seven young men and seven maidens every seven or nine years to the Minotaur. The young men and maidens entered the Labyrinth and were never seen again. 

One year, the sacrificial party included Theseus, the son of King Aegeus, who volunteered to come and kill the Minotaur. Ariadne fell in love at first sight, and helped him by giving him a sword and a ball of thread. Ariadne held one end of the thread and Theseus held the other end. This way he could retrace his steps and leave the Labyrinth. Theseus entered the Labyrinth and confronted and killed the Minotaur with the sword. He used the thread to find his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth.

Ariadne eloped with Theseus after he achieved his goal, but according to Homer "he had no joy of her. In most accounts, Theseus abandoned Ariadne sleeping on Naxos, and Dionysus rediscovered and wedded her. In a few versions of the myth, Dionysus appeared to Theseus as they sailed away from Crete, saying that he had chosen Ariadne as his wife, and demanded that Theseus leave her on Naxos for him; this has the effect of absolving the Athenian culture-hero of desertion. The vase-painters of Athens often showed Athena leading Theseus from the sleeping Ariadne to his ship.