Ἱππόλυτος
Hippolytus
Euripides · first staged City Dionysia, 428 BC · first prize
Aphrodite punishes Hippolytus, who scorns love, by making his stepmother Phaedra fall in love with him. He rejects her. She hangs herself and leaves a note accusing him of rape, and his father Theseus curses him to his death.
Persons, in order of appearance
- Αφ.Aphrodite
- Ιππ.Hippolytus
- Ιπ.Hippolytus and Attendants
- Θε.Attendant
- Χο.Chorus
- Τρ.Nurse
- Φα.Phaedra
- Θη.Theseus
- Θερα.Attendants
- Αγ.Messenger
- Αρ.Artemis
Translations
- E. P. Coleridgeprose · 1891 · aligned by line · with Murray's Greek
- A. S. Wayverse · 1912 · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
- Coleridge, rev. Rein & Nagy (Kosmos Society)prose · aligned by speech · with Diggle's Greek
- Ian Johnston (VIU)verse · aligned by speech · with Diggle's Greek
- Gilbert Murrayverse · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
Greek texts
Cite as Eur. Hipp. 1–1466
Full synopsis (tells the ending)
Aphrodite, slighted by Theseus's son Hippolytus, who worships only Artemis and wants nothing to do with love, has made his stepmother Phaedra fall in love with him. Phaedra is starving herself rather than speak. Her nurse gets the secret out of her and, meaning to help, tells Hippolytus. He is disgusted. Phaedra, exposed, hangs herself and leaves a tablet accusing him of rape. Theseus believes it, banishes his son, and curses him with one of the three curses Poseidon owes him. A bull from the sea wrecks Hippolytus's chariot. Artemis tells Theseus the truth over the dying boy, who forgives him.
Drawing: Line drawing after the 1847 plate of a red-figure amphora formerly in the Pizzati collection, Florence (Gerhard, Auserlesene griechische Vasenbilder III, Taf. CLXV, 4, "Theseus und Antiope"); cut out and retraced.