The Vexed Woman, Again
In an alternate account, Phaedra hangs herself after being refused, leaving a suicide note for her husband to find. In the note she accuses Hippolytus of trying to lie with her. With this, Theseus calls upon Poseidon to grant him one of three curses he was promised to kill Hippolytus. Theseus banishes him from the land to die either by the curse or by exile on foreign land.
Some time later Hippolytus was killed by his own chariot, as Poseidon sent a huge bull to rise from the sea, which confused and frightened the horses. The chariot was thrown and destroyed, with Hippolytus becoming tangled in the reins and being dragged by the horses until he died.
After Theseus is told of his son’s demise, Phaedra’s falseness is exposed and the truth is revealed to Theseus.
(Euripides, Hippolytus)
