Phaedra
heroPhaedra 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 Myth
Phaedra resisted her passion as long as she could, wasting away in silence. When her nurse revealed the secret to Hippolytus, his disgusted reaction drove Phaedra to suicide. Before dying, she wrote a tablet accusing Hippolytus of assault — ensuring his destruction as revenge for his rejection. Racine's Phèdre (1677) is considered the supreme achievement of French tragedy.
Parents
Minos and Pasiphaë
Children
Acamas, Demophon (by Theseus)
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.
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