Procrustes

In Greek mythology, Procrustes (/proʊˈkrʌstiːz/; Greek: Προκρούστης Prokroustes, meaning "the stretcher [who hammers out the metal]"), also known as Prokoptas, Damastes (Δαμαστής, "subduer"), or Polypemon, was a notorious bandit and blacksmith from Attica. He attacked travelers by either stretching them or cutting off their legs to make them fit the size of his iron bed.

The term "Procrustean" is used to describe situations where an arbitrary standard is applied to measure success, often ignoring the harm caused by forcing people or things to conform.

Procrustes was said to be the son of Poseidon, though his mother’s identity remains unknown. He had a son named Sinis, by Sylea (the daughter of Corinthus), who, like his father, became a villain captured and killed by Theseus.

Procrustes established his stronghold on Mount Korydallos at Erineus, located on the sacred way between Athens and Eleusis. There, he owned a bed and invited travelers to spend the night, where he would then use his smith's hammer to force them to fit. In some versions of the myth, if the guest was too tall, Procrustes would amputate the excess length, while if the guest was too short, he would stretch them until they died. No one ever fit the bed perfectly. Procrustes continued his reign of terror until he was finally captured by Theseus during his journey from Troezen to Athens. Theseus "fitted" Procrustes to his own bed, killing him in the process.

This encounter with Procrustes marked the last of Theseus's adventures on his journey to Athens.