In Euripides' Hippolytus, Phaedra,
the wife of Theseus, is in love with her stepson Hippolytus. For a long time, Phaedra
had tried to hide her love, but eventually her nurse convinces her to reveal her secret
to her. When the nurse learns of Phaedra's love for her stepson, the nurse convinces
Phaedra to allow her to approach Hippolytus.
Hippolytus,
however, is devoted to preserving his chastity and therefore he rejects the "indecent
proposal" that the nurse makes on Phaedra's
behalf.
Phaedra, in an effort to preserve some semblance of
self-respect, hangs herself; but before she does so, she writes a letter accusing
Hippolytus of sexually assaulting her.
When Theseus
discovers this letter, he believes that Hippolytus is guilty of this crime. Given this
belief, Theseus curses Hippolytus, a curse which results in Hippolytus having a chariot
accident and being dragged to death by his own horses.
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