Theseus and Ariadne

Theseus and Ariadne

View of the main fresco on the back wall the dining room (= triclinium) of The House of the Tragic Poet.

This central image is a fresco of Theseus, who had defeated the Minotar on Crete, abandoning Ariadne, who had helped him.  Theseus is getting into a ship as he abandons Ariadne, upper left, on the Island of Naxos.  A theme of doomed love!