HIPPOLYTUS (son of Theseus)

He led the hunt, tended the fane, and guarded shrines for the goddess, claiming the unique privilege of conversing with her without seeing her face.^4,5,6 Fresh from the labors of the chase, he cleared the earth of wild beasts with his fleet hounds, dressed in hunting attire and accompanied by a long group of retainers.^7,8,9 He owned steeds he intended to yoke to a chariot for exercise, using his well-known voice to cheer them on.^6,10,11

By Aphrodite’s design, Phaedra fell in love with him, drawn by his beauty, and plotted his death after he refused her request to lie with her.^8,12,13,14 Hippolytus scorns love, refuses to marry, and describes women as a plague that ruins a household’s fortune, declaring that his tongue had sworn an oath but his heart had not.^8,15,16 He hates, dreads, and curses all women, stating he will never feel anything but hatred toward them and hates the very name of womankind.^17,18,14 Phaedra falsely accused him of proposing to lie with her to Theseus, who then summoned him to test the truth of the accusation.^14,13

Theseus accused Hippolytus of brutally violating his honor and outraging his wife, leading to a divine deception that resulted in the prince’s death.^19,20,21,22 Theseus asked Poseidon to kill Hippolytus, and the curse took effect as the prince was driving a chariot.^23,4 The chariot overturned when its reins became entangled in a wild olive tree, and Hippolytus was dragged to death by leathern thongs.^24,23,13 He died because of the horses pulling his chariot, his life-blood given to satisfy his vengeful father.^22,25,21,2 He lies dead as a mangled, lifeless corpse, his fair flesh and auburn hair badly disfigured, yet described as unstained and innocent.^26,27,28

Asclepius resurrected Hippolytus after he died from Theseus’s curses, allowing him to take the name Virbius while living in hiding.^29,30,21 He became the king of the Aricians in Italy and was later identified as a king of Sicyon, fathering Lacestades.^30,31 The Troezenians gave him honours equal to those offered to gods, maintaining a lifelong priest and establishing annual sacrifices in his honor.^13,32 Unmarried maidens in Troezen cut a lock of hair and dedicate it to Hippolytus before marriage, honoring the man who stood steadfast with a savage countenance.^4,32,11