In Greek mythology, Ariadne helped Theseus after he reached Crete.
Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos and became central to Theseus’s mission. She gave him a means of finding his way back through the Labyrinth after confronting the Minotaur. Later retellings commonly identify that aid as a ball of thread, often called Ariadne’s thread, although the question of exactly how the object was used varies among sources.
After Theseus escaped, he left Crete with Ariadne, but their later story differs substantially across ancient authors. Some accounts say he abandoned her on Naxos; others connect her with the god Dionysus. Ariadne should not be confused with Helen or other famous Greek princesses. Her name also survives in the expression “Ariadne’s thread,” meaning a clue or method that guides someone through a difficult problem.