Theseus ventured into the
labyrinth of the Minotaur – half man, half bull – in order to kill it. He was
given a ball of wool from Princess Ariadne to unroll while going through the
labyrinth, ensuring that he could find his way back out again. In 1657, Willem
Strijcker painted the moment when the hero gives the ball of wool (all neatly
rolled up!) back to his beloved. The Minotaur and the labyrinth can be seen in
the background. This painting hangs in the former Insurance Chamber (now the
bedroom of the English Quarter) where merchants could insure their ships and merchandise.