Hippolytus of Athens
Hippolytus in Greek mythology is the son of Theseus and an Amazon, either Hippolyta or Antiope. His downfall at the hands of Aphrodite is recounted by the playwright Euripides. Other versions of the story have also survived.
Etymology
The meaning of Hippolytus' name may be understood ironically. Ἱππό- translates to 'horse', and the element -λυτος suggests the adjective 'which may be undone, destroyed'. His name thereby takes on the prophetic meaning 'destroyed by horses'.Premise of the myth
Hippolytus is a hunter and sportsman who is disgusted by sex and marriage. In consequence, he scrupulously worships Artemis, the virgin huntress, and refuses to honor Aphrodite. Offended by this neglect, Aphrodite causes Phaedra, Hippolytus’ stepmother, to fall in love with him; Hippolytus rejects Phaedra's advances, setting events in motion that lead to his death in a fall from his chariot.Euripides
Euripides' tragedy Hippolytus describes the death of the hero after a confrontation with his stepmother Phaedra, the second wife of Theseus. Cursed by Aphrodite, Phaedra falls so ardently in love with Hippolytus that she becomes physically ill and decides to end her suffering through suicide. Her nurse tries to save her by revealing the secret to Hippolytus and encouraging him to reciprocate. Hippolytus responds only with horror and disgust, humiliating Phaedra. In despair, and not wanting to admit the true reason for ending her life, she hangs herself and leaves a note for Theseus accusing his son, Hippolytus, of raping her. Theseus, furious, uses one of the three wishes given to him by Poseidon, his father: Theseus calls on Poseidon to kill Hippolytus, who has fled the palace to go hunting. Poseidon sends a sea-monster to terrorize Hippolytus' chariot horses, which become uncontrollable and hurl their master out of the vehicle. Entangled in the reins, Hippolytus is dragged and suffers lethal wounds. Artemis reconciles father and son by telling Theseus that Phaedra's accusation against Hippolytus was not true. Artemis comforts the dying Hippolytus with a promise to make him the subject of religious practice so that his memory will live forever. She assigns a band of Trozenian maidens the task of preserving the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus in a ritual song.Versions of this story also appear in Seneca the Younger's play Phaedra, Ovid's Metamorphoses and Heroides, and Jean Racine's Phèdre.
In Italy as Virbius
During a later phase of Hellenization, Virbius, one of two figures associated with the ancient cult of Diana Nemorensis, was assimilated to the Hippolytus, as a metamorphosis.The version presented by Ovid in his Metamorphoses, and by Pausanias, relates a story about Hippolytus that differs from the version presented by Euripides. Here Hippolytus was brought back from the dead by Asclepius, but once revived he refused to forgive Theseus, went to Italy, became the king of the Aricians, and named a city after Artemis. He there ruled as "Virbius" from inside the shrine of Diana. Euripides' Hippolytus remained permanently connected him to his tomb. Virbius was also identified with the sun god Sol/Helios.
The nature of Virbius' function remains enigmatic, but his cult maintained that Artemis asked Asclepius to resurrect the young man since he had vowed chastity to her. Followers of Hippolytus' cult cut off a piece of their hair to dedicate their chastity to him before marriage.