I agree with Gill’s choice to use Hippolytus as a touchstone by which we can measure the other mortal characters. But I disagree that he is a touchstone by which the characters measure themselves; Gill pays special attention to Phaedra. Hippolytus sees himself and, by Gill’s reasoning, his sophrosynê through a very specific light. He sees his sexuality only as it applies to his coveted virginity. He sees his piety only as it applies to his patron goddess. And he sees soundness of mind as important only when it concerns other things that he cares about; he expected Theseus to be reasonable when condemning him to death, but when he condemned Phaedra to death, he does not seem to so much as countenance the thought of clemency. In both cases,
