Ariadne: The Lover of Wine

 Explanation:

    Most gods start off with their power, yet there are some myths that make an exception such as the mortal princess turned divine, Ariadne. Her story starts with the myth of the minotaur, and the hero Theseus who slays the beast. Her father was king Minos of Crete, a son of Zeus and who, upon his death, became one of three judges who decide the fate of souls entering the underworld. King Minos had been feeding Athenians to the minotaur, who was hidden away in a labyrinth. One day the son of king Aegeus volunteered to go, and kill the creature, his name, of course, was Theseus. Upon his arrival, he and Ariadne fell in love and she gifted him a sword and a thread, which would magically guide him through the maze.  After his victory, Theseus and Ariadne sailed to the island of Naxos where Theseus abandoned Ariadne. The wine god Dionysus saw her and they fell into a much deeper, much realer love leading them to marry. Dionysus, ever generous, gifted her godhood. During their marriage ceremony itself he imparted another gift, once sealed he took the crown she wore for the occasion and threw it into the sky where he turned it into a constellation. The pair had many children and both were true to each other, a trait most rare in Greek mythology, the only other pair with similar honesty were Hades (the god of the underworld) and his wife Persephone (goddess of spring).

Worship:


    Ariadne was considered part of Dionysus’ entourage and as such, received little personal worship. Dionysus, his wife, and whoever else might accompany him were worshiped through drinking, dancing, and the feeling of ecstasy.


Conclusion:


    Her involvement with numerous important figures makes her notable by association. Her rare existence in a pure relationship also elevates her notoriety. 

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