Hippolytus

Euripides' Hippolytus explores the devastating consequences of Phaedra's forbidden desire for her stepson, creating a drama of passion, shame, and divine cruelty that has resonated through the centuries. The play served as the primary source for Racine's Phèdre (1677), one of the masterworks of French classical theater.

In the play, the goddess Aphrodite punishes Hippolytus for his devotion to chastity by inflicting Phaedra with uncontrollable passion. The tragedy was adapted by Seneca in the Roman period and later by Racine, whose Phèdre is considered among the greatest French tragedies ever written. Richard Strauss also drew upon the material for his opera, extending the story's influence into the world of music.