PROCRUSTES

[Greek heroic] "The stretcher". The nickname for Damastus (or Polypemon), a legendary robber of ancient Attica. He lived in the area of Eleusis, and captured passing travelers to fit them in one of his two beds. He had one long and one short bed. Prisoners who were small he placed on the long bed, and stretched their limbs until they would fit. Tall people he placed on the small bed, and lopped off the parts that were too long. This bloody amusement was put to a stop by the hero Theseus, who killed Procrustus.