Source edition
Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. I. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1902.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This Greek tragedy depicts the terrifying revenge of the goddess Aphrodite upon the young Hippolytus, who disdains the goddess of love and prides himself on his devotion to the virgin goddess Artemis. Set in Troezen, the tragedy unfolds as Hippolytus's stepmother, Phaedra, suffers from a forbidden love for him. To preserve her honor, Phaedra decides to end her life, but leaves behind a false letter accusing Hippolytus of violating her. Believing the accusation, his father, Theseus, furiously invokes the curse of Poseidon, banishing his son and driving him to destruction. As the mortally wounded Hippolytus is brought back, Artemis appears to reveal the truth behind the deception. Ultimately, the father and son reconcile in deep sorrow before Hippolytus passes away, leaving a poignant contrast between the cruelty of the gods and human dignity.