Simonides says that the sail which Aegeus delivered to the pilot
was not white, but

Scarlet, in the juicy bloom
Of the living oak-tree steeped.

The lot being cast, and Theseus having received out of the
Prytaneum those upon whom it fell, he went to the Delphinium, and
made an offering for them to Apollo of his suppliant's badge,
which was a bough of a consecrated olive tree, with white wool
tied about it.

Having thus performed his devotion, he went to sea, the sixth day
of Munychion, on which day even to this time the Athenians send
their virgins to the same temple to make supplication to the gods.
It is farther reported that he was commanded by the oracle at
Delphi to make Venus his guide, and to invoke her as the companion
and conductress of his voyage, and that, as he was sacrificing a
she goat to her by the seaside, it was suddenly changed into a he,
and for this cause that goddess had the name of Epitragia.

When he arrived at Crete, as most of the ancient historians as
well as poets tell us, having a clue of thread given him by
Ariadne, who had fallen in love with him, and being instructed by
her now to use it so as to conduct him through the windings of the
Labyrinth, he escaped out of it and slew the Minotaur, and sailed
back, taking along with him Ariadne and the young Athenian
captives. Pherecydes adds that he bored holes in the bottom of the
Cretan ships to hinder their pursuit. Demon writes that Taurus,
the chief captain of Minos, was slain by Theseus at the mouth of