Sinis

Or Sinnis (Σιννις), a son of Polypemon, Pemon or Poseidon by Sylea, the daughter of Corinthus. He was surnamed according to some Pityocamptes ("Pine-bender"), and according to others Procrustes. He dwelt on the isthmus of Corinth as a robber, destroying the travelers whom he had conquered, by fastening them to the top of a pine tree, which he curbed, and then let spring up again. He himself was killed in this manner by Theseus.

After the brigand's death, Theseus caused himself to be purified by Phytalus at the altar of Zeus Meilichius, because he himself was related to Sinis,1 or according to others, he propitiated the spirit of Sinis by instituting in his honor the Isthmian games.2

The name is connected with σίνομαι (sinomai), expressing the manner in which he tore his victims to pieces.

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References

Notes

  1. Pausanias. Description of Greece i, 37.3.
  2. Scholiast on Pindar, l.c.; Plutarch. Theseus, 25; Welcker. Nachtrag, p. 133

Sources

  • Diodorus Siculus. Historical Library iv, 59.
  • Euripides. Hippolytus, 977.
  • Hyginus. Fabulae, 38.
  • Ovid. Metamorphoses vii, 440 ff.
  • Pausanias. Description of Greece ii, 1.4 ff.
  • Plutarch. Theseus, 8.
  • Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library iii, 16.2.
  • Scholiast on Pindar's Isthmian Odes, hypothesis.
  • Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.