The seven Deeds of Theseus - V
iv) Fight between Theseus and Kerkyon, the King of Eleusis; Kerkyon was a very strong man, and he was notorious in ancient time for his cruelty towards his daughter Alope and all who refused to fight with him, but he was eventually beaten and slain by Theseus who took over the kingdom of Eleusis. (Pans. i. 39. § 3.)
v) Theseus naked is about to hit Prokrustes, “the Stretcher", with his axe; Prokrustes was the nick-name 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 or cutted with an axe. He was slain by Theseus who “fitted” him to his own bed.
vi) Theseus fastens Sinis to the top of a fir-tree. Sinis dwelt on the isthmus of Corinth as a robber, killing the travellers fallen into his hands, by fastening them to the top of a fir-tree, which he curbed, and then let spring up again. He himself was killed in this manner by Theseus. When Theseus had accomplished this, he was compelled to be purified by Phytalus at the altar of Zeus Meilichios, because Theseus himself was related to Sinis (Paus. i. 37. § 3), or according to other, he propitiated the spirit of Sinis by instituting in his honor the Isthmian games.
Made in Athens
Attic red figured kylix
Attribute to “The Penthesilea Painter”
About 475-425 BC
From Spina Necropolis
Ferrara, Archaeological Museum
The seven Deeds of Theseus - V
iv) Fight between Theseus and Kerkyon, the King of Eleusis; Kerkyon was a very strong man, and he was notorious in ancient time for his cruelty towards his daughter Alope and all who refused to fight with him, but he was eventually beaten and slain by Theseus who took over the kingdom of Eleusis. (Pans. i. 39. § 3.)
v) Theseus naked is about to hit Prokrustes, “the Stretcher", with his axe; Prokrustes was the nick-name 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 or cutted with an axe. He was slain by Theseus who “fitted” him to his own bed.
vi) Theseus fastens Sinis to the top of a fir-tree. Sinis dwelt on the isthmus of Corinth as a robber, killing the travellers fallen into his hands, by fastening them to the top of a fir-tree, which he curbed, and then let spring up again. He himself was killed in this manner by Theseus. When Theseus had accomplished this, he was compelled to be purified by Phytalus at the altar of Zeus Meilichios, because Theseus himself was related to Sinis (Paus. i. 37. § 3), or according to other, he propitiated the spirit of Sinis by instituting in his honor the Isthmian games.
Made in Athens
Attic red figured kylix
Attribute to “The Penthesilea Painter”
About 475-425 BC
From Spina Necropolis
Ferrara, Archaeological Museum