In Greek mythology, what relationship did Ariadne have to the Minotaur?

Ariadne was the Minotaur’s half-sister in Greek mythology.

Ariadne was a daughter of King Minos and Pasiphaë, while the Minotaur was born to Pasiphaë and the Cretan Bull. Because they shared Pasiphaë as a mother but had different fathers, Ariadne and the Minotaur were half-siblings.

Ariadne became important when Theseus arrived among the Athenian youths sent to Crete. She helped him navigate the Labyrinth by giving him a thread, allowing him to retrace his route after killing the Minotaur.

The relationship is sometimes overlooked because Ariadne is usually remembered as Theseus’s helper rather than as part of the Minotaur’s family. Her story also continues after Crete: ancient traditions differ about what happened to her, including accounts involving Dionysus and her abandonment by Theseus.