The episode is referenced in
Plutarch's
Life of Theseus, in description of
Theseus' method of slaying his assailants by returning "the same sort of violence that they offered to him," as
Heracles killed Termerus by “breaking his skull in pieces". Hence, comes the proverb of 'a Termerian mischief'. It seems Termerus killed passengers that he met by running with his head against them. According to
Stephanus of Byzantium, Termerus was the
eponym of the city Termera in
Lycia. A scholiast on Euripides relates that Termera was founded by Termerus and took its name after him. The same source informs that Termerus and Lycus, two
Lelegians "of beastly nature", were said to be notorious robbers that raided
Caria and also sailed as far as the island
Kos for the same purpose. The saying "Termerian mischief" was accordingly inspired by their deeds. According to the dictionary
Suda, the proverbial expression "Termerian mischief" () was due to a fortified dungeon located in Caria near Mount Termerion lying between
Myndus and
Halicarnassus. ==Notes==