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Named for the daughter of Minos {see planet  (6239)}, king of Crete, and Pasiphae, sister of Ariadne {see planet  (43)} and wife of Theseus. Phaedra became infatuated with her stepson Hippolytus and made overtures to him, but was rejected. In anger and humiliation she hanged herself, but left a message accusing Hippolytus of having attacked her. The outraged Theseus, without hearing Hippolytus’ side of the story, appealed to Poseidon {see planet  (4341)}, god of sea, for appropriate revenge. Poseidon sent a sea monster which terrified Hippolytus’ horses so that they bolted and dragged their master to his death under the wheels of his own chariot. (Z 202)