The Athenians were at that time in deep affliction, on account of the tribute which they were forced to pay to Minos, king of Crete.  This tribute consisted of seven youths and seven maidens, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur, a monster with a bull’s body and a human head.  It was exceedingly strong and fierce, and was kept in a labyrinth constructed by Daedalus, so artfully contrived that whoever was enclosed in it could by no means, find his way out unassisted.  Here the Minotaur roamed, and was fed with human victims.

Theseus resolved to deliver his countrymen from this calamity, or to die in the attempt.  Accordingly, when the time of sending off the tribute came, and the youths and maidens were, according to custom, drawn by lot to be sent, he offered himself as one of the victims, in spite of the entreaties of his father.  The ship departed under black sails, as usual, which Theseus promised his father to change for white, in case of his returning victorious.  When they arrived in Crete, the youths and maidens were exhibited before Minos; and Ariadne, the daughter of the king, being present, became deeply enamored of Theseus, by whom her love was readily returned.  She furnished him with a sword, with which to encounter the Minotaur, and with a clew of thread by which he might find his way out of the labyrinth.  He was successful, slew the Minotaur, escaped from the labyrinth, and taking Ariadne as the companion of his way, with his rescued companions sailed for Athens.  On their way they stopped at the island of Naxos, where Theseus abandoned Ariadne, leaving her asleep. [Footnote:  One of the finest pieces of sculpture in Italy, the recumbent Ariadne of the Vatican, represents this incident.  A copy is owned by the Athenaeum, Boston, and deposited, in the Museum of Fine Arts.] His excuse for this ungrateful treatment of his benefactress was that Minerva appeared to him in a dream and commanded him to do so.

On approaching the coast of Attica, Theseus forgot the signal appointed by his father, and neglected to raise the white sails, and the old king, thinking his son had perished, put an end to his own life.  Theseus thus became king of Athens.

One of the most celebrated of the adventures of Theseus is his expedition against the Amazons.  He assailed them before they had recovered from the attack of Hercules, and carried off their queen Antiope.  The Amazons in their turn invaded the country of Athens and penetrated into the city itself; and the final battle in which Theseus overcame them was fought in the very midst of the city.  This battle was one of the favorite subjects of the ancient sculptors, and is commemorated in several works of art that are still extant.