The Ancient Greek mythology mentions that Minos of Knossos with Pasiphae had raised Androgeo, Defkalion, Glafko, Katrea and Akalli, Ariadne, Phaedra and Xenodiki. In certain wall paintings (frescos) inside the palace of Knossos, it is believed that the wife along with the daughters of Minos were displayed in the form of the blue ladies and the dancers. Minos handed over the throne to his son Deucalion. Deucalion contracted peace with the Athenians, and friendship with Theseus, who married Deucalion's sister Phaedra. Theseus and Phaedra had two sons, Akamanda and Demofonda.

From his first marriage with amazon Dipoliti, Thiseas had his son Hippolytus, loyal to the virgin goddess Artemis. He was known for his beauty and his sporty figure. Theseus had sent Hippolytus to Trizina at the palace of Pithea, the grandfather of Thisea from his mother Ethra. Hippolytus was destined to take the throne from Pithea at Trizina, and the children from Phaedra's side to succeed him in Athens. This act would ensure peace.

Phaedra met Hippolytus in Trizina, at Pithead's palace. Near Aphrodite's holy sanctuary, Phaedra watched closely Hippolytus exercising in the adjacent stadium. After returning in Athens, she founded a new sanctuary for Aphrodite on the Southwest side of Acropolis, from where she could observe Trizina. She met again Hippolytus when they attended Panathinea.

Phaedra has fallen in love with Hippolytus. With the help of his serveuse, she sent a letter in which she confessed her feelings. Hippolytus rejected her, because she was the wife of Theseus, and also because he was faithful to the virgin goddess Artemis. Phaedra, afraid that Hippolytus would reveal her secret to Theseus, she accused Hippolytus of raping her. Theseus believed her, so he asked Poseidon to assassin Hippolytus and he banished his son to Peloponnesus. On the way, a bull came out of the sea, the horses got agitated and Hippolytus died.

There are also other versions of the story: Phaedra dying before revealing her love, as well as Phaedra dying after accusing Hippolytus. Euripides created two tragedies on Phaedra's subject. However, only the tragedy of Hippolytus was retrieved.