The Death of Hippolytus
Scene from Hippolytus. Theseus curses Hippolytus and so Poseidon sent a wild bull from the sea, and at his sight the four horses of H.'s quadriga were startled and overturned the carriage. In the picture H. tries to steady his horses, in vain, because the bull, who is half shown, rising from the sea, has terrorized them. A Fury, or the personificaton of Lyssa (Rabies/Madness}, appears with snakes around her hands, and a torch in her hands, helping to startle the horses. An old man is following the carriage wearing a theatrical costume. He helplessly watches the scene, and knows that he will have to break the news to Theseus. The painting is inspired from the theatrical performance of Euripides' Hippolytus. [Apulian krater 350 B.C. London British Museum]