Hippolytus

Of the extant plays of Euripides, the Hippolytus, which took the first prize at its reproduction in 428 B.C., deserves the highest place. In the prologue, Aphrodite declares herself resolved to punish the chaste Hippolytus, son of Theseus, who disdains her and pays his worship to Artemis. With this design she has put into the heart of Phaedra, the wife of Theseus, a love for her stepson. This Theseus will learn, and then will destroy his son by one of three fatal wishes which Poseidon...
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Of the extant plays of Euripides, the Hippolytus, which took the first prize at its reproduction in 428 B.C., deserves the highest place. In the prologue, Aphrodite declares herself resolved to punish the chaste Hippolytus, son of Theseus, who disdains her and pays his worship to Artemis. With this design she has put into the heart of Phaedra, the wife of Theseus, a love for her stepson. This Theseus will learn, and then will destroy his son by one of three fatal wishes which Poseidon has promised to fulfill. This will involve the ruin of Phaedra too, but for that there is no help, the goddess caring first for her honor and herself. Presently Hippolytus enters; he lauds his lady Artemis and consecrates to her a garland. An attendant suggests that he should in like manner honor Aphrodite, whose statue also stands at the entrance to the palace. Hippolytus, deaf to advice, persists in ignoring the goddess, and therein lies his offense.