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Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter

Ariadne explained

Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, helps Theseus escape the labyrinth but is abandoned by him on the island of Naxos.

What happens

Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, helps Theseus escape the labyrinth but is abandoned by him on the island of Naxos. Venus consoles her with the promise of an immortal lover, and Bacchus finds her, makes her his wife, and gives her a golden crown. Upon her death, Bacchus places the crown in the sky as a constellation.

Themes in this chapter

  • Love and Transformation

    Ariadne's grief is transformed into eternal love with Bacchus, and her crown becomes a constellation.

Characters to notice

  • Theseus

    Ariadne helps Theseus escape the labyrinth, but he ungratefully abandons her on Naxos.

  • Venus

    Venus takes pity on Ariadne and promises her an immortal lover.

  • Bacchus

    Bacchus finds Ariadne lamenting, consoles her, marries her, and later places her crown among the stars.

Key passages

  • “Ariadne, on waking and finding herself deserted, abandoned herself to grief.”

    When Ariadne awoke and realized she was alone, she gave in to her sorrow.

    Describes Ariadne's despair after being left by Theseus.

  • “As a marriage present he gave her a golden crown, enriched with gems, and when she died, he took her crown and threw it up into the sky.”

    Bacchus gifted Ariadne a jeweled golden crown at their wedding, and after her death, he cast it into the heavens.

    Explains the origin of the constellation Corona Borealis.

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