In Greek mythology, who was Ariadne’s father when she helped Theseus?

In Greek mythology, Ariadne’s father was King Minos when she helped Theseus.

Ariadne is generally described as a daughter of Minos, the ruler of Crete, and Pasiphae. This family connection places her inside the royal household that controlled the Labyrinth and the tribute demanded from Athens. Her decision to help Theseus therefore makes her assistance an act against her own family’s interests.

Ariadne’s relationship with Theseus is important because she supplies the practical aid that allows him to return from the Labyrinth. After the Cretan episode, ancient accounts disagree about her fate, especially concerning Naxos and Dionysus. Minos himself appears in several myths, but the story of the Minotaur specifically makes him Ariadne’s father and the ruler whose household contains the creature’s prison.