Phaedra (mythology)

Phaedra (1880) by Alexandre Cabanel

In Greek mythology, Phaedra /ˈfiːdrə, ˈfɛdrə/ (Ancient Greek: Φαίδρα, Phaidra) is the daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë, wife of Theseus, sister of Ariadne, and the mother of Demophon of Athens and Acamas. Phaedra's name derives from the Greek word φαιδρός (phaidros), which meant "bright".

Though married to Theseus, Phaedra fell in love with Hippolytus, Theseus's son by another woman (born to either Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, or Antiope, her sister). But Hippolytus rejected her.

In revenge, Phaedra wrote Theseus a letter that claimed Hippolytus had raped her. Theseus believed her and cursed Hippolytus with one of the three curses he had received from Poseidon.[1] As a result, Hippolytus's horses were frightened by a sea monster and dragged their rider to his death.

In another version, after Phaedra told Theseus that Hippolytus had raped her, Theseus killed his son, and Phaedra then committed suicide out of guilt, for she had not intended Hippolytus to die. Then Artemis later told Theseus the truth.

In a third version, Phaedra told Theseus and did not kill herself; Dionysus then sent a wild bull which terrified Hippolytus's horses.

Euripides placed this story twice on the Athenian stage, of which one version survives.

According to some sources, Hippolytus had spurned Aphrodite to remain a steadfast and virginal devotee of Artemis, and Aphrodite made Phaedra fall in love with him as a punishment.[2]

In one version, Phaedra's nurse told Hippolytus of her love, and he swore he would not reveal her as a source of information.

In literature

Phaedra with an attendant, probably her nurse, a fresco from Pompeii, 60-20 BC

Phaedra's story appears in several major works of literature, including:

In music

Phaedra is also the subject of a number of musical works, including:

In film

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Odyssey iv. 274.
  2. ↑ The Athenians maintained a small shrine high on the south slope of the Acropolis devoted to Aphrodite 'for Hippolytus' (Karl Kerenyi, The Heroes of the Greeks, 1959:243).
  3. ↑ Fedra (Dramma mitologico dell'Antica Grecia) (1909) at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Phädra (TV 1967) at the Internet Movie Database

Sources

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