King Minos hated the Athenians because they had killed his son. He ordered that every four years nine youths should be sent to Crete to feed the minotaur. The minotaur was half man and half bull. He lived in the labyrinth under the palace. King Aegeus of Athens was so angry by this that he promised that he would go and try to kill the minotaur. Instead Theseus, his son went.
Ariadne, daughter of King Minos fell in love with Theseus and decided to help him. She sneaked past the guards and gave him a long ball of string and a sword. As he entered the maze he started to loose the string out. Eventually Theseus came to the lair of the minotaur and had a terrible, ferocious battle with the minotaur. The minotaur died and Theseus was able to find his way out of the maze by being able to follow his string trail.