Ariadne: A Novel of Ancient Crete

by June Rachuy Brindel

Ariadne, Earth Goddess and queen of Crete, struggles to maintain her reign and looks to Theseus, prince of Athens, for help

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mythology, Fiction, Greek Mythology, Fantasy, Greece, Historical

246 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1980

About the author

Feminist author June Rachuy Brindel delves into history and myth in her novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Ariadne," seeking to explore the overlooked women's perspective. Born on a farm in Little Rock, Iowa, Brindel earned her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago. She began writing novels somewhat late in life, having held a variety of jobs (including secretary to a poet laureate) while she was younger. While teaching drama at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan in 1967, she wrote the play "Automaton: King of Machines" for her students to perform. She lives in Wilmette [Illinois].

Short stories and poems published in Beloit Poetry Journal, Carolina Quarterly,Rhino, Primavera,MSS, Story Quarterly, Kansas Quarterly, Other Voices.

Source: author's page at CenterStageChicago.com

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Ariadne around the time of its publication in 1980. Since then it has survived many cullings of my bookshelf - as well as a house fire. I cracked its spine again this summer and was amazed (probably all over again) at how brilliant it is. Brindel has decoded and reimagined the Cretan and Greek Myths of the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus, Theseus and, above all, Ariadne. She clearly brings a good deal of scholarship (includes a long bibliography) to her fictional interpretation of the collapse of the Mother centered religions and political structures (Crete) and the rise of the patriarchal structures exemplified by Zeus (Athens).

This is not an airy, romantic rendition of an idealized Goddess centered past. We enter the palace at Knossos after the rot has already set in. Pasiphae, Ariadne’s mother, Queen of Crete and the Mother made flesh, has already broken the ancient laws by her submission to her consort Minos, who should have been ritually sacrificed long ago. Minos and his henchmen are in charge. Crete has long been infiltrated by Atticans/Athenians. Minos himself is on a mission to replace the Father/Zeus with the mother. Brutal massacres of priestesses and corruption of the sacred rites is the order of the day.

We are guided in this dog eat dog world by Deadalus, Athenian architect and all round handyman to Minos, and Ariadne who we watch grow from young princess to Queen to.......read the book.

[J. Andrew Brantley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminist author June Rachuy Brindel coalesces pre-history and myth into her novel, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Ariadne. It is the 15th century BCE, and Crete is at a dangerous crossroads. Princess Ariadne is the hereditary monarch and the embodiment of the Mother Goddess in Knossos. However, the power-hungry King Minos wishes to destroy the Matriarchy and overthrow the old Mother Goddess religion, using increasing violence against the priestess. Ariadne still determines who to trust and what to believe, with the royal court having more twists and turns than the labyrinth itself.

The novel is written from the perspective of Ariadne and takes place during the Bronze Age of Crete. It turns traditional mythological figures such as Theseus, Daedalus, and Icarus on their heads but still includes familiar mythological figures.


This novel came to me by complete luck. Before I found this novel, the only significant reimagining of the Theseus myths I knew of was Mary Renault's The King Must Die and The Bull from the Sea. It is also unfortunate that Brindel's Ariadne (which was nominated for the Pulitzer) and Phaedra are now out of print. I was able to procure a 1980 paperback.

The novel is told through a first-person narrative, switching between Ariadne and Daedelus in six sections. Brindel is adept at creating a robust and atmospheric mood for the book. Brindel's Crete is in peril; constant droughts, food storage, and natural disasters occur. The Cretans are still determining the causes, and the royal family is of no help. Merope, Ariadne's governess, believes that because the princess's mother, Queen Pasiphaë, has become too myopic and vain, the Mother Goddess is punishing the island. Merope informs Ariadne that the Mother Goddess now speaks within her and that her dreams must be recorded and interpreted.

King Minos and Ariadne's brothers Tauros and Androgeus tire of the Matriarchy they live under and slowly introduce the "sky gods" like Zeus into their pantheon and way of life. Merope finds this to be blasphemy and hates all things Attic, like Daedelus and his son Icarus (calling them Athenian dogs); she instructs Ariadne to hold sacred the ways of the goddess. All of their actions change Crete in a way none of them would ever imagine. We witness Ariadne mature from an unsure preteen to a radiant queen in all but title.

While I enjoyed the book, one of my most significant issues with the novel was the overall treatment of Ariadne's character. She was far too passive! As the princess of Crete and the de facto embodiment of the Mother Goddess, I expected her to have more autonomy. She spends most of the novel in a weird space of arrested development, unsure what to do with her power.

The plot twists are more shocking and unexpected than exciting and intriguing. And at times, they go nowhere! The scene where Ariadne awakens to see Merope and her women hanging from a tree is jarring to say the least. I will not forget that anytime soon! After Tauros has the unsuccessful coup d'état and Minos leaves him militated, Ariadne (believes) that she sees him chained in the depths of the labyrinth, along with the dead baby in the jar of honey...and then it is never discussed again. That stop-and-go was rather frustrating. It was interesting to see what may be the Maenad myth that evolved from the general Asterios giving drugs to people and turning them into crazed maniacs.

My favorite character was Daedalus. He was analytical and far too practical for the luxury of Knossos. And since he is so pragmatic, he makes an excellent narrator. And his insights were definitely needed. The idea of Icarus and Ariadne being lovers was inventive, but his "mystery" death was unusual and unnecessary. And it took me to the end of the novel to discover that Minos was Ariadne's biological father and habitually tried to sleep with her! And there was that crazy part of Pasiphaë and her son Tauros being lovers?! What was with all the incest in this book?! Theseus was just the worst; Daedelus saw right through his talk of heroic exploits as a volatile (and perhaps sociopathic?) opportunist who was only using Ariadne. It seemed like Brindel wrote him that way as a direct criticism of Renault's interpretation.

[Lucinda Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 April

This is one of the few books to which I must give a five star. It is a masterpiece of vivid, evocative, sensitive writing, research, and the way that the author has shown how the Theseus myth can be shown to have evolved as a work of patriarchal propoganda. I feel so sorry for Ariadne in this (although I always did symapathise with her, anyway).

Two thirds of the way through. I found the love story between Icarus and Ariadne very touching. The scenes of rape and torture of the women prisoners, and particularly the pregnant one, in the overthrown matriarcal culture from which Ariadne's servant Korkayne comes, probably disturbed me more than anything I have read since 'For Those I Loved'.

Theseus has arrived; he is obviously a 'bad un' but an entrancing one, and Ariadne's fate is sealed.

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is among the many I have found on the ground, and as such, I wasn't expecting all that much of it. I was expecting some sort of histrionic "sex and death among the alabaster pillars of the ancients!!!!1!" - but, I was pleasantly surprised. This book offers a realistic version of the semi-mythical events that lead up to the Athenian Theseus slaying the minotaur at Knossos and marrying, somewhat messily, the two princesses, Ariadne and Pheadra. What the book really explores, though, is the development of a realistic account of how mother-goddess worship could turn into father-god worship. What would a normal person, not essentially credulous by nature, who was born into the priestesshood, think of her own form of worship compared to the new Zeus-centered religion? Etc.

The author switches back and forth quite enjoyably between the voice of the priestess Ariadne and the builder Daedalus. Both of the voices are well-articulated, and it's so enjoyable to explore their development. Ariadne changes quite a bit as she ages (I think she's 13 or so at the start of the book, and maybe mid-twenties at the end), and Daedalus, likewise, goes through his own aging process as he reaches the end of his life and becomes increasingly bitter and rigid. Both voices ring true; the author succeeds in developing a story that's about actual people rather than chess-pieces in an historical game.

[Keren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a tale as old as time but more honest. This retelling of the story of Ariadne, Minos, Deadalus, and Theseus centers a struggle for power that sees warrior men who view women as possessions to be manhandled or scorned violently usurping ancient traditions surrounding the divine feminine. It's a story of progress that treats the natural world as a human possession to be destroyed as we see fit, subjugates and terrorizes women across the globe, and lacks the humility required to admit mistakes and take steps to remedy those mistakes. Who knows what progress might have looked like if it had developed more naturally and more gently and without so much death and destruction.

[Tiffany DuBeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible, scholarly rendition of the end of the monarchy in ancient Crete. June takes us on a journey that is unlike the typical myth-centred story of Theseus & the Minotaur (which I love respectfully) through Daedalus and Ariadne. Ariadne really shines in this one as a powerful heiress, determined and faithful to the Mother based religion. I found this retelling both challenging and imaginative. If you’re only familiar with Renault’s work (one of my favourites), this may be a bit challenging at first as you really have to change your perspective. There are far more metaphorical comparisons to myths and more scholarly interpretations. Try flipping to the back of the book and read the shortened myth versions first to truly understand the differences you may read. Such a great book!

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to believe that I'm not the only reader who prefers writing reviews for books that I either loved or hated, but generally don't have a lot to say about books that just left me feeling a bit ho-hum.

The premise of Ariadne is interesting. Brindel cleverly takes an ages old mythological tale and puts a unique spin on the legend. Ariadne is a bit more coldly calculating and Theseus a complete DB.

It wasn't horrible, but I didn't feel as focused or "into" the read as I could have been.

[Elizabeth Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

A devastating and brilliant story of the patriarchal take-down of the matriarchal society of ancient Minoa, meticulously researched and unsentimental. Every cell in my body resonated with the collective memory of this change in culture on earth, and it was as hard to read as it was hard to put down.

[Keith CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Madeline Millers' retelling of Achilles or Circe you will absolutely love Ariadne, the retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur through the eyes of Ariadne princess of Crete. Ariadne is the beacon of female strength that shines through this tale. This is definitely a page-turner and a guaranteed winner.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of writing where feeling and atmosphere are more important than plot or clarity, where the reader isn't supposed to understand all the goings on. Which is definitely not for me at all, I was mostly bored. Ariadne seemed so passive in this story, I guess I'm just not understanding what makes the retelling feminist.
The only thing that delightet me was this poem, that Brindel put before one of the chapters. Attributed to Haldane from his paper "Daedalus, or, Science and the Future". However, it seems to be a misremembered or mildly rewritten poem by Robert Buchanan.

Black is his robe from top to toe,
His flesh is white and warm below,
All through his silent veins flow free
Hunger and thirst and venery,
But in his eyes a still small flame
Like the first cell from which he came
Burns round and luminous, as he rides
Singing my song of deicides.

[Irene Bolden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot and I am now reading The Other Bible which which was written from notes written on or before the first century, interesting reading, not always to be taken too seriously as absolute truth, but interesting reading.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched. Playful interpretations of Ariadne's romantic life.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The myth of the minotaur, King Minos and daughter Ariadne told in novel form.

[Marianna Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written if searing book.
June Rachuy Brindel's work been compared to Mary Renault's writing, but to my mind, it greatly transcends her predecessor's approach, which was necessarily affected by the patriarchal views of her own time.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough to warrant buying the sequel. Total downer ending, though this is Greek Tragedy, so it goes with the territory.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful read