| 翻訳と辞書 |
Procrustes
In Greek mythology, Procrustes (Προκρούστης) or "the stretcher (hammers out the metal )", also known as Prokoptas or Damastes (Δαμαστής) "subduer", was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who physically attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size of an iron bed. In general, when something is Procrustean, different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard.
==In Greek mythology==
In the Greek myth, Procrustes was a son of Poseidon with a stronghold on Mount Korydallos at Erineus, on the sacred way between Athens and Eleusis.〔Tripp, Edward. ''The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology.'' Meridian, 1970, p. 498.〕 There he had a bed, in which he invited every passer-by to spend the night, and where he set to work on them with his smith's hammer, to stretch them to fit. In later tellings, if the guest proved too tall, Procrustes would amputate the excess length; nobody ever fit the bed exactly.〔This detail, which injects a note of verisimilitude, is reported by both pseudo-Apollodorus (''Epitome''1.4) and Hyginus. "Later it was stated, by those who did not think of the meaning of Prokrustes, Prokoptas and Damastes, that he even had two beds, a large one and a small one." (Karl Kerenyi, ''The Heroes of the Greeks'', 1959:223, noting pseudo-ApollodorusDiodorus Siculus, 4.59.5.)〕 Procrustes continued his reign of terror until he was captured by Theseus, travelling to Athens along the sacred way, who "fitted" Procrustes to his own bed:
He killed Damastes, surnamed Procrustes, by compelling him to make his own body fit his bed, as he had been wont to do with those of strangers. And he did this in imitation of Heracles. For that hero punished those who offered him violence in the manner in which they had plotted to serve him.〔Plutarch, ''Vita Thesei'' §11a. ((Theoi.com on-line English translation )).〕 Killing Procrustes was Theseus's last adventure on his journey from Troezen to Athens.
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
■ウィキペディアで「Procrustes」の詳細全文を読む
スポンサード リンク
| 翻訳と辞書 : 翻訳のためのインターネットリソース |
Copyright(C) kotoba.ne.jp 1997-2016. All Rights Reserved.
|
|