Theseus Abandoning Ariadne in Ancient Greek Art

As the story goes Ariadne's father put her in charge of the labyrinth where sacrifices were made as part of reparations; however, she would fall in love with Theseus and  later help him in overcoming the Minotaur and saving the would-be sacrificial victims 

Theseus took Ariadne with him when he set sail back to Athens, but then he abandoned her on the island of Naxos . Dionysos saw her there, fell in love with her, and whisked her away and married her. 

The vase-painters of Athens often showed Athena leading Theseus from the sleeping Ariadne to his ship.

Here it is Hermes, at left, who leads Theseus away. A winged figure attends to Ariadne—perhaps Eros, a hint at her upcoming marriage to Dionysos.

Athene commands Theseus to abandon Ariadne on Naxos, heading towards the ribbon-bedecked prow of his ship. The maiden slumbers as the winged god Hypnos (Sleep) drips Lethean water on her head. 

Athene rouses Theseus, commanding him to abandon Ariadne on Naxos. The maiden sleeps with a tiny, winged Hypnos (sleep personified) crouching on her head. (Museo Archeologico Nazionale,  Taranto, Italy ca 460 BC)

 Athena ushers Theseus off to the left while Dionysus leads Ariadne off to the right. Syleus Painter (c 470 BCE) Berlin, East