Euripides: Hippolytus

by Sophie Mills

Hippolytus is generally acknowledged to be one of Euripides' finest tragedies, for the construction of its plot, its use of language and its memorable characterisations of Phaedra and Hippolytus. Furthermore, it asks serious and disturbing questions about the influence of divinity on human lives. Sophie Mills considers these and many other themes in detail, setting the play in its mythological, cultural and historical contexts. She also includes discussions of major trends in interpretations of the play and of subsequent adaptations of the Hippolytus story, from Seneca to Mary Renault and beyond.

Genres: Classics

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Sophie Mills is Professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she has taught for 25 years. She was educated at Oxford University and arrived at UNC Asheville in 1994. Since then, she has written four books and many articles on Greek literature (though briefly deviated into children's literature with her article "Pig in the Middle") but also spends significant time in the classroom, teaching everything from beginners' Latin to Greek Prose Composition. A particular interest of hers could be called applied Ancient Greek: creating with her students performance translations of tragedies geared to non-specialist audiences. So far we have versions of the Oresteia (abridged, 2012), Philoctetes (2014), Bacchae (2016), Medea (2017) and Antigone (2020), all available on request from her. When not teaching or writing, she is a home-brewer, second alto, and cat and pig lover. She lives with her spouse Amy Joy Lanou in Asheville, NC and welcomes correspondence (smills@unca.edu).

Reviews

[regina ferarri · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Phaedra is cursed by Aphrodite to be attracted to her celibate stepson, (Hippolytus,) she kills herself. Hippolytus' conversation with his father, (Theseus,) goes as follows:

Theseus: "She killed herself because you raped her!"
Hippolytus: "Why would I do that? I HATE women!"

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I remember it being. But I literally don't like any characters??? Except Phaedra??? gone too soon girlie :( fuck Hippolytus' misogynistic ass.

[Paul Howlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to Greek tragedy and the rest of the series...

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hippolytus is kind of annoying …?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

:(