Tantalus

For other uses of this name, see Tantalus (disambiguation).

In Greek myth, Tantalus was a son of Zeus who became king of Sipylos. He was initially favored by the gods, and invited to share their food, but later offended them greatly.

The most famous account of this offense says that Tantalus threw a banquet for the gods, at which he served his dismembered son Pelops as the main course. Disgusted, the gods restored Pelops to life and banished Tantalus to Tartarus. (Another account said he simply shared the food of the gods with other mortals, with the same results.)

In Tartarus, Tantalus was condemned to perpetual starvation and thirst. To compound the punishment, he was immersed in water up to his neck (that lowered when he tried to drink it) while branches with delicious fruit hung above him (that were blown by winds out of reach when he tried to pick them).

Comments

Tantalus' name is the origin of the word "tantalize."