Hippolytus [2] - Dolan

Hippolytus, son of the hero King Theseus, spends his days tracking game and reveling in his chastity; both activities honor the goddess Artemis. They also infuriate Aphrodite, the goddess of sexuality, who opens the play by confiding to the audience her intention to destroy this insolent young man. Aphrodite intends to use Phaidra, Theseus' wife and Hippolytus' stepmother, as her weapon, and inspires in Phaidra a virulent lust for Hippolytus. Unwilling to proposition her stepson face-to-face, Phaidra allows her maid to act as go-between. When Hippolytus hears that Phaidra desires him he not only rejects her but excoriates the entire female sex as depraved, deceitful, and desperate. Humiliated, Phaidra commits suicide and exacts her revenge on Hippolytus by leaving a note to Theseus claiming that Hippolytus has raped her. Devasted, Theseus deploys a magical prayer to Poseidon, asking the god to kill his son.see less