El Hilo de Ariadna

ARIADNA'S THREAD

Ariadne and Theseus

Oil on canvas

Author: Niccolò Bambini

Theseus and Ariadne

Sculpture

Author: Vincenzo di Rossi

Location: Grotta del Buontalenti, 
Firenza

MYTHOLOGY

The myth related to this expression is the one of the Minotaur, the thread of Ariadne refers to the mythological character Ariadne, the daughter of Minos.

When Theseus arrives in Creta to kill the minotaur and release his city from the horrible sacrifice which they were submitted to, seven maidens and seven young boys to be eaten by the Minotaur, Ariadne falls in love with the hero, and she gives him a sword and a gold thread to escape from the maze where the minotaur is. The thread of Ariadne was the guide to find the exit when he had killed the monster.

The expression is a phrase used to refer to a series of observations, arguments or deductions which are related. They guide us easily to sort out a problem that didn't seem to have a solution, like the maze of the Minotaur.

Ariadne and Theseus

Sculpture

Location: Palacio Sanssouci

Ariadna abandoned by Theseus

Oil on canvas

Author: Angelica Kauffmann

MEANING

The “miga de pan” (from the English “breadcrumb”) or the “thread of Ariadne” (from the French “fil d'Ariane”) is a navigation technique used in many user graphic interfaces, and web pages. Even if its design can take infinitely variable transmission, in general terms, it consists of a text line in which it is indicated the path followed, and the way to come back. It allows the user to know the route of their location in the directories and subdirectories, and navigate on them.

The English term “breadcrumb” comes from the classic tale Hansel and Gretel. In French, instead of the trace of breadcrumbs, the term “fil d'Ariane” is used to evoke the thread Ariadne gave Theseus to find the exit in the maze of the Minotaur.

OTHER IMAGES

Ariadna y Teseo

Relief

Location: Parc del Laberint d´Horta, 
Barcelona

Theseus expelling the Minotaur from Labyrinth 
flanked by Nike and Ariadna

Red-figured crater

Author: Alkimachos Painter

Date: 460 BC

Location: Metropolitan Museum New York

EXAMPLES