Phaedra

Also known as: PHÆ / PHÆDRA / Phædra · Family: Crete · Role: wife of Theseus · First appears: Euripides, Hippolytus — Scene 1

Phaedra, of the Cretan royal house, became the second wife of Theseus, daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë. After Theseus killed Pallas, he entered banishment with her at Trœzene. There, Aphrodite afflicted her with destructive love for Hippolytus, her husband’s son; Phaedra recognized that she had gone mad under a god’s influence, while others associated her torment with Artemis, Pan, or Hecate.

Phaedra resisted dishonorable remedies but could not overcome Aphrodite’s power. She abstained from food for three days and sought death, eventually revealing that she loved Hippolytus, who became enraged and condemned her for admitting a desire for “a father's” bed. After he threatened to expose her, Phaedra resolved that “to die as soon as possible is the only cure of my present sufferings,” asking the women of Trœzene to keep her words secret.

When Hippolytus learned of her love, Phaedra hanged herself from the ceiling of her bridal chamber, leaving Theseus bereaved and his house desolate. Before dying, she cursed Hippolytus and called on Zeus, her ancestor, to strike him with fire.