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(Greek mythology) The wife of Theseus, who falls in love with but is spurned by her stepson Hippolytus, then commits suicide, but is the cause of his later death (details vary between versions). quotations
We notice that Racine's Phaedra, like Euripides', displays high moral dignity because she considers her passion for Hippolytus to be abominable.
1981, Normand Berlin, The Secret Cause: A Discussion of Tragedy, page 46
Why did Seneca decide to postpone his own Phaedra’s suicide until after Hippolytus' death? The question is by no means as futile as it may sound.
1993, Albert S. Gérard, The Phaedra Syndrome: Of Shame and Guilt in Drama, page 20
I may add that the notion that Aphrodite is especially cruel because she destroyed Phaedra, who was an innocent victim, since she had no choice, is not a perception that would have been shared by the ancient audience. Not only is it at the very least arguable—in fact likely—that in ancient eyes Phaedra did have a choice,166 but also the very notions "innocent victim since she had no choice" and "cruel because destroying an innocent victim" are unstable cultural concepts.
2003, Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood, Tragedy and Athenian Religion, page 331
(rare) A female given name from Ancient Greek.
(astronomy) The asteroid 174 Phaedra. examples