ABSTRACT
The story of Phaedra properly speaking began with this passion, which she at first concealed and then confessed, either to her nurse or to Hippolytus him during one of Theseus absences. Although the Greek tragedians were responsible for establishing Phaedra in the fields of literature and art, according to Jean Pommier their plays are in fact further from the original myth than the modern versions of Euripide's play. The mythical and transcendental environment created by the presence of two divinities, the aggression shown by Hippolytus towards Aphrodite, and Phaedra's internal struggle, represent the essence of tragedy, the confrontation of the individual with him/herself and with the gods. Phaedra is seen as a wretched and unhappy figure and Benichou comments: If the story of the Temptress turned accuser represents the development of a youthful destiny, it is possible to say that the Hippolytus-Phaedra version depicts the failure of this destiny.
