Phaedra
Phaedra was the wife of Theseus who was cursed by Aphrodite to fall hopelessly in love with her stepson Hippolytus — her suicide and false accusation destroyed him.
The Legend of Phaedra
Daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë of Crete, Phaedra married Theseus and came to Athens as queen. Aphrodite, punishing the house of Theseus for Hippolytus's devotion to Artemis, caused Phaedra to fall helplessly in love with her stepson. She resisted the passion in silence, wasting away. When her nurse revealed the secret, Hippolytus recoiled in horror. Phaedra, ashamed, hanged herself and left a letter accusing Hippolytus. Theseus called on Poseidon to destroy his son, and a bull from the sea killed the innocent youth. Artemis revealed the truth too late.
Parents
Minos and Pasiphaë
Symbols
Fun Fact
Racine's Phèdre is often called the greatest play in the French language — performing the title role is the summit of French acting.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Hippolytus
🗡 heroSon of Theseus destroyed by Aphrodite
Hippolytus was the chaste son of Theseus who rejected Aphrodite and was destroyed when his stepmother Phaedra fell in love with him.
Aerope
🗡 heroAdultery, royalty
Queen of Mycenae whose adultery with Thyestes caused the devastating curse upon the House of Atreus
Megara
🗡 heroNone recorded
First wife of Heracles, given to him as a reward and later killed in his madness
Anteia
🗡 heroDesire, false accusation
Queen of Tiryns who falsely accused Bellerophon of assault, setting in motion his legendary trials
Cephalus and Procris
🗡 heroLovers destroyed by jealousy
Cephalus and Procris were devoted spouses whose mutual jealousy — tested by Eos and by a magic gift — led to Procris's accidental death.
Jocasta
🗡 heroNone recorded
Queen of Thebes who unknowingly married her own son Oedipus after his return
Deianeira
🗡 herolove, destruction
The wife of Heracles whose love inadvertently killed the greatest hero in Greek mythology when she used the poisoned shirt of Nessus.
Clytemnestra
🗡 heroQueen who murdered Agamemnon
Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon on his return from Troy, driven by rage over Iphigenia's sacrifice.
Medea
🗡 heroSorceress who helped Jason, then destroyed him
A powerful sorceress and princess of Colchis who betrayed her family to help Jason win the Golden Fleece, only to be abandoned by him and take catastrophic revenge.
Hecuba
🗡 heroQueen of Troy
Hecuba was the queen of Troy who watched her husband, sons, and city destroyed — embodying the total devastation that war inflicts on women.
Alphesiboea
🗡 heroMarriage, tragedy
First wife of Alcmaeon who received the cursed necklace of Harmonia as a wedding gift
Eriphyle
🗡 herobetrayal
Wife of Amphiaraus who twice accepted bribes to send her male relatives to their deaths in war.