Procrustes
Prŏcrustes, ae, m., = Προκρούστης,
- a noted highwayman in Attica. He had a bed upon which he compelled travellers to lie down; when they were longer than the bed he cut off as much of their limbs as would suffice to make the length equal; and when they were shorter he stretched them out to its length. He was slain by Theseus: vidit et immitem Cephisias ora Procrusten, Ov. M. 7, 438: torvus, id. H. 2, 69; Sen. Clem. 2, 4, 1; cf. Hyg. Fab. 38.
Procrūstēs, ae, m. (Προκρούστης), ein Räuber in Attika, eig. Damastes oder Polypemon mit Namen, der die gefangenen Wanderer auf ein Folterbett spannte und ihnen, wenn sie länger waren, die überragenden Glieder abhieb, wenn sie kürzer waren, sie bis zur Länge des Bettes ausreckte; er wurde von Theseus getötet, Ov. met. 7, 438. Sen. de clem. 2, 4, 1. Hyg. fab. 38.
Prŏcrustēs, (14) æ, m. (Προκρούστης), Procruste ou Procuste, brigand de lʼAttique, tué par Thésée : Ov. M. 7, 438 ; Sen. Clem. 2, 4, 1.
Procrustes
(Προκρούστης), that is, "the Stretcher," is a surname of the famous robber Polypemon or Damastes. He used to force all the strangers that fell into his hands into a bed which was either too small or too large, and in which he had their limbs stretched by force until they died. He was slain by Theseus, on the Cephissus in Attica; the bed of Procrustes is used proverbially even at the present day. (Plut. Thes. 11; Paus. 1.38.5; Ov. Met. 7.438.) [L.S]