Sinis (mythology)
{{Short description|Greek mythological figure}}
File:Theseus Sinis Staatliche Antikensammlungen 8771.jpg and Sinis, Attic red-figure kylix, 490–480 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (Inv. 8771).]]
In Greek mythology, Sinis ({{langx|grc|Σίνις|Sínis}}) was a bandit killed by Theseus on his way to Athens.
Family
Pseudo-Apollodorus describes Sinis as the son of Polypemon and Sylea, daughter of Corinthus;Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.16.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Sinis 3.16.2]Tripp, Edward. The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology. Meridian, 1970, p. 532. he has also been described as the son of Canethus and Henioche.Plutarch, Theseus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plut.+Thes.+25&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0067 25.4-5]
Mythology
An Isthmian outlaw, Sinis would force travelers to help him bend pine trees to the ground and then unexpectedly let go, catapulting the victims through the air. Alternative sources say that he tied people to two pine trees that he bent down to the ground, then let the trees go, tearing his victims apart. This led to him being called Pityocamptes ({{lang|grc|Πιτυοκάμπτης}}, {{translit|grc|Pityokámptēs}}, "pine-bender").Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth. Sixth Edition. New York City: Pearson Education, Inc., 2009, p. 401-402.
Sinis was the second bandit to be killed by Theseus as the hero was traveling from Troezen to Athens, in the very same way that he had previously killed his own victims. Theseus then slept with Sinis's daughter, Perigune, who later bore Theseus's son, Melanippus. Perigune later married Deioneus of Oechalia.Ovid, Metamorphoses 7.440
Notes
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{{Commons category|Sinis (mythology)}}
Category:Fictional serial killers
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