Illegitimate child of Theseus by Amazona, Hippolytus is dedicated with all his soul in Artemis' worship, goddess of purity. Although, Aphrodite, goddess of love does not accept this preference and creates in Phaedras' heart, Theseus wife, a love passion for Hippolytus. While Phaedra is tortured by this wrongful feeling, her Nurse, trying to give an outlet for her, discloses the secret to the chaste young man. By learning the news Hippolytus rebels and speaks with hard words to Phaedra, making her feel shame for her irrational passion. Then she commits suicide and leaves a letter in which he accuses Hippolytus that he attempted an indecent assault on her. Theseus, deeply hurt for the death of his wife, gets enraged with the supposed unholy act of his son and asks of Poseidon to punish him strictly. God of the Sea, with a wild monster washed up by the huge waves, shatters Hippolytus up on his chariot, and we see his friends bringing him dead in front of his father. Artemis appears to declare the innocence and ethical integrity of Hippolytus and bring to light Aphrodite's machination who plunged a home in misery.