According to the book, Classical Mythology, "an archetype is a kind of dramatic abbreviation of the patterns involved in a whole story or situation, including the way it develops and how it ends; it is a behavior pattern, an inherited scheme of functioning" (Morford, et. al.

Classical Mythology. Pg. 9). Archetypes are frequently used in Greek culture. The story of Hippolytus, according to Euripides, displays how Curl Jung's archetypes reflect cultural practices by the use of deceiving/curious women, an innocent virgin, and a rebellious son.

The three main women in Euripides's Hippolytus (Aphrodite, Phaedra, and the Nurse) can be given the archetype of deceiving women. The play begins with Aphrodite stating that Hippolytus "has blasphemed (dishonoring of a deity) me, counting me vilest of the Gods in Heaven. He will none of the bed of love nor marriage, but honors Artemis, Zeus's daughter, counting her greatest of the Gods in Heaven" (Euripides, Hippolytus lines 12-16). Aphrodite stated that she will punish Hippolytus for his sins against her. She punished Hippolytus by making Phaedra, his stepmom, fall madly in love with him, something he did not want (Morford, et. al. Classical Mythology. Pg. 9). Aphrodite did not care if Phaedra died in the process of Hippolytus's punishment. Phaedra was in the process of starving herself when she finally told her curious, convincing nurse what was bothering her. The nurse then promptly deceived Phaedra by telling Hippolytus of her love, making the situation worse for Phaedra. Phaedra then stated, "She loved me and she told him of my troubles, and so has ruined me. She was my doctor, but her cure has made my illness mortal now... I know of one, and only one-quick death. That is the only cure for my disease" (Euripides, Hippolytus lines 596-600).  Phaedra did not want to fill the land with dishonor, so she hung herself with note stating that she was raped by Hippolytus. She did this because saying that she was raped was better for honor than others knowing of her betrayal to her husband and her love for her stepson. Aphrodite punishing for wrongdoings to her, the curious nurse telling a secret, and Phaedra telling a believable lie to save herself are all examples of archetypes reflecting cultural practices.

Hippolytus represents the archetypes of both the rebellious son and the innocent virgin. Theseus saw his dead wife with the note and stated to the crowd and Hippolytus, "Look at this man! He was my son and he dishonors my wife's bed! By the dead's testimony he's clearly proved the vilest, falsest wretch" (Euripides, Hippolytus lines 943-945). Due to the cultural practice of men always wanting to have sex, Theseus assumed Hippolytus rebelled against him while he was away. It was more likely to him to have his son rape his wife than for his son to be a virgin. Theseus gave no trial and asked his father, Poseidon, to kill Hippolytus. Soon after being exiled, Hippolytus died, and a messenger came to Theseus. The messenger came with news for him, after relaying that his son had died, he stated "I am only a slave in your household, King Theseus, but I shall never be able to believe that your son was guilty ...for I know that he was good" (Euripides, Hippolytus lines 1249-1254). Others knew of Hippolytus's chastity in honor of Artemis and knew he could not have committed the crime he was punished for. Theseus seeing Hippolytus as only a rebellious son and not accepting him to be an innocent virgin is a great example of how archetypes are used/reflect common cultural practices because it was very uncommon for a male to be chaste.

Carl Jung's archetypes can be found in the story of Hippolytus. The archetypes of deceiving women and innocent virgins are the most noteworthy. The story of Hippolytus is a different side to the innocent virgin archetype however, because he is a male virgin instead of the regular female. Euripides's Hippolytus is a great tragedy play with many great examples of archetypes reflecting on cultural practices.