Procne is a character in Greek mythology, the daughter of King Pandion of Athens. She was married to King Tereus of Thrace. Her sister Philomela decided to visit her sister's palace; while there, Tereus raped her and then cut off her tongue so that she wouldn't speak of the crime. However, Philomela managed to weave the crime onto a tapestry and passed it to her sister. When Procne realised what had happened, she killed her son Itys, boiled him, and served him to Tereus. After Tereus finished his meal, Procne and Philomela showed the head of the poor boy to Tereus, who realised what had happened. He grabbed an axe and tried to kill them, who started fleeing. While being pursued, the sisters pleaded to the gods, and the gods answered their prayers. The three of them were turned into birds; Procne into a swallow; Philomela into a nightingale; and Tereus into a hoopoe.
See Also: Philomela, Tereus, Itys