Phaedra

Phaedra was a figure in Greek mythology, known as a daughter of King Minos. She married Theseus, the king of Athens, and became the stepmother of his son, Hippolytus.1

In a tragic turn of events, Phaedra developed an intense and forbidden love for her stepson, Hippolytus. When Hippolytus rejected her advances with revulsion, Phaedra, in despair, took her own life. Before her death, she falsely accused Hippolytus of attempting to rape her. Theseus, believing the accusation, banished his son. The sea god Poseidon, at Theseus's request, sent a monster that frightened Hippolytus's horses, causing them to drag him to his death. This story has been retold in various dramatic works, including Jean Racine's play "Phèdre," which shifts the focus to Phaedra's internal struggle. The goddess Aphrodite, associated with love, played a role in the complex relationships within Greek myths.2345