Hippolyta: Difference between revisions
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In many versions Theseus marries either Antiope or Hippolyte, having a son named [[Hippolytus (mythology)|Hippolytus]]. Theseus eventually marries [[Phaedra]] either after having left his wife or after the death of his wife after childbirth. In the version in which Theseus is married to and leaves Hippolyte, she tries to exact revenge by bringing the Amazons to Theseus and Phaedra's wedding in order to kill everyone, although this fails when she is killed by Theseus' men in some versions and by [[Penthesilea]], another Amazon, in others. |
In many versions Theseus marries either Antiope or Hippolyte, having a son named [[Hippolytus (mythology)|Hippolytus]]. Theseus eventually marries [[Phaedra]] either after having left his wife or after the death of his wife after childbirth. In the version in which Theseus is married to and leaves Hippolyte, she tries to exact revenge by bringing the Amazons to Theseus and Phaedra's wedding in order to kill everyone, although this fails when she is killed by Theseus' men in some versions and by [[Penthesilea]], another Amazon, in others. |
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===Origin=== |
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When the sun is in the constellation of [[Aries]], the constellation [[Andromeda (constellation)|Andromeda]] sets. Andromeda, having an apparent long skirt, is considered in Greek mythology to be female. It also has three bright close stars forming a line, leading to the impression of a belt (as do the three in [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]]). Girdle is another word for belt. |
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The full constellation appears to have something long attached to its upper body, and in the Greek myth of the [[Boast of Cassiopeia]], this is identified as a chain. Other tales identify it as a sword (discarding parts of the chain from being part of the constellation), implying that the constellation is an [[Amazons|Amazon]] warrior. The queen of the Amazons was given the name Hippolyte in Greek mythology. |
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Heading in the direction of the sun's transit moves next after Andromeda to the [[Pleiades (star cluster)|Pleiades]], considered in Greek mythology to be [[Pleiades (mythology)|the seven sisters]]. After Herakles obtained [[Hippolyte|the girdle of Hippolyte]], he had to face a band of women (more Amazons). |
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[[Category:Fictional queens]] |
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[[Category:Twelve labours of Herakles]] |
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[[Category:Greek Mythological Amazons]] |
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[[fr:Ceinture d'Hippolyte]] |
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[[it:Ippolita]] |
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[[pt:Hipólita]] |
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Revision as of 03:26, 9 January 2006
- This article is about Hippolyte in Greek mythology. Other characters called Hippolyte exist. See Hippolyte (disambiguation)
In Greek mythology, Hippolyte is the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle she was given by her father Ares, the god of war.
Herakles' ninth labour was to obtain the girdle at the request of Admete, Eurystheus' daughter. In one version of the story, Hippolyte fell in love with Heracles and freely gave him the belt. According to another the girdle is obtained by Herakles kidnapping Hippolyte's sister Melanippe and demanding the girdle as the ransom, then releasing her after gaining the girdle.
After Herakles obtains the girdle, Theseus, one of Herakles' companions (also including Sthenelus), kidnaps Antiope, another sister of Hippolyte. The Amazons then attack the party (because Herakles' enemy Hera has spread a vicious rumour that Herakles was there to attack them or to kidnap Hippolyte), but Herakles and Theseus escape with the girdle and Antiope. According to one version, Herakles kills Hippolyte as they flee. In order to rescue Antiope, the Amazons attack Athens but fail, in some versions with Antiope dying in the onslaught.
In many versions Theseus marries either Antiope or Hippolyte, having a son named Hippolytus. Theseus eventually marries Phaedra either after having left his wife or after the death of his wife after childbirth. In the version in which Theseus is married to and leaves Hippolyte, she tries to exact revenge by bringing the Amazons to Theseus and Phaedra's wedding in order to kill everyone, although this fails when she is killed by Theseus' men in some versions and by Penthesilea, another Amazon, in others.