Hippolytus Summary

Hippolytus begins with a speech by Aphrodite, goddess of love. She is raging against Hippolytus, son of Theseus and an Amazon who worships and honors the goddess Artemis. Artemis is the goddess of virginity and chastity and Hippolytus, because of his reverence and love for Artemis, refuses to honor Aphrodite. Spurned and angered, Aphrodite has decided to get revenge on Hippolytus for this insult. Theseus, Hippolytus's father is in exile with his family in Troezen to pay penance for a crime he committed in Athens. While they are still in Athens, Aphrodite makes Phaedra, Hippolytus's stepmother and wife to Theseus fall madly in love with her stepson.

After Aphrodite finishes her threat to get revenge on Hippolytus, Hippolytus and his fellow huntsmen appear and give honors to the goddess Artemis. After Hippolytus has spoken about the greatness of Artemis and given garlands to...