In Greek mythology, seven Athenian youths were usually sent to Crete as tribute.
The traditional account says that Athens was required to send seven young men and seven young women to Crete at regular intervals. They were delivered to the Labyrinth, where the Minotaur consumed them. The tribute was imposed after Athens was defeated by King Minos, although versions differ about the exact cause of the conflict and the interval between deliveries.
Theseus eventually joined the group and killed the Minotaur, ending the tribute in the best-known version of the story. Some ancient and later sources vary in details, including the timing and wording of the payment, but the number seven is the standard figure for the youths. The full group is therefore fourteen people: seven males and seven females.