459. Mutilation (See also Brutality, Cruelty.)

1. Absyrtus hacked to death; body pieces strewn about. [Gk. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 3]
2. Agatha, St. had breasts cut off. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 34]
3. Amazons female warriors cut or burnt off their right breasts to prevent interference when drawing the bow. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 29]
4. Atreus slew his brother Thyestes’s sons and served them to their father at banquet. [Gk. Myth.: Jobes, 153]
5. Dagon Philistine idol; falls, losing head and hands. [O.T.: I Samuel 5:1–4]
6. ear and knife at Christ’s betrayal, Peter cut off soldier’s ear. [Christian Symbolism: N.T.: John 18:10]
7. Erasmus, St. disemboweled, windlass used to wind entrails out of his body. [Art: Daniel, 95]
8. harem, the besieged, the starving Janissaries cut off and eat a buttock from each woman, including Cunegonde, beloved of Candide. [Fr. Lit.: Voltaire Candide ]
9. Jack the Ripper (late 19th century) dissected his victims. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 463]
10. Lavinia her tongue is cut out to prevent her from testifying to the evil deeds she has witnessed. [Br. Lit.: Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ]
11. Monkey’s Paw, The short story in which mangled son is brought back to life as is to greedy, foolish old couple with three wishes. [Brit. Lit.: Benét, 511]
12. Philomela violated by Tereus, king of Thrace; he cuts out her tongue to prevent her from revealing his conduct. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 783]
13. Procrustes made travelers fit bed by stretching or lopping off their legs. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 221]
14. Sinis split victims by fastening them between two bent pines and then letting the pines spring upright. [Gk. Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 1005]
15. Tereus cuts off Philomela’s tongue to prevent her telling he has raped her. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 995]

Mutiny (See REBELLION .)

MUTILATION

Cutting, tearing, erasing, or otherwise changing a document in a way that changes or destroys its legal effect. It is a federal crime to mutilate public records, coins, or passports.

Incriminal law, the crime of violently, maliciously, and intentionally giving someone a serious permanent wound.