Sisyphus – Mythopedia Sisyphus was a Greek king famous for his cunning He was so clever, in fact, that he managed to cheat Death himself and live a longer life than the gods had intended But this later backfired: his actions angered the gods, and when he finally did die, he was forced to suffer eternal punishment in Tartarus
Tityus - Mythopedia The slain Tityus was cast into Tartarus, where he joined other mythological sinners such as Sisyphus, Tantalus, and Ixion in eternal suffering He lay outstretched while either one or two vultures (or a serpent) pecked at his liver or heart, unable to fend off the terrible creatures that plagued him
Odyssey: Book 11 (Full Text) - Mythopedia Ajax keeps at a sullen distance, and disdains to answer him He then beholds Tityus, Tantalus, Sisyphus, Hercules; till he is deterred from further curiosity by the apparition of horrid spectres, and the cries of the wicked in torments
Thanatos - Mythopedia Sisyphus was thus able to escape death for a time But his actions led to a dangerous crisis: with Thanatos in chains, death had been—temporarily—abolished The gods finally sent Ares, the god of war, to release Thanatos from his chains Sisyphus was forced to die, but he managed to trick the Underworld gods a second time He told his wife
Odysseus – Mythopedia He also saw many famous dead heroes (Theseus, Heracles) and villains suffering eternal punishment (Sisyphus, Tantalus) Sea Monsters and Sacred Cows Odysseus and his men then returned to Circe’s island, where they buried one of their companions, Elpenor, who had died while they were preparing to sail for the Underworld
Tantalus - Mythopedia Tantalus was best known for his punishment in Tartarus In ancient literature and art, he tended to be grouped with Tartarus’ other famous permanent residents, including Sisyphus, Ixion, and Tityus Tantalus’ punishment varied somewhat in the ancient sources, but it usually involved the sinner floating in a pool whose water he couldn’t
Hades – Mythopedia Sisyphus by Antonio Zanchi (ca 1660–1665) Mauritshuis Public Domain Originally, this was the extent of the Greek Underworld: a dreary, gray field for the majority of the dead, with special punishments reserved for a handful of sinners in Tartarus
Iliad: Book 6 (Full Text) - Mythopedia “A city stands on Argos’ utmost bound, (Argos the fair, for warlike steeds renown’d,) Aeolian Sisyphus, with wisdom bless’d, In ancient time the happy wall possess’d, Then call’d Ephyre: Glaucus was his son; Great Glaucus, father of Bellerophon, Who o’er the sons of men in beauty shined, Loved for that valour which preserves mankind
Tartarus – Mythopedia Located far below even Hades, Tartarus was a dreaded place of darkness and punishment reserved for only the most nefarious sinners—sinners like Tantalus, Sisyphus, and Ixion Tartarus’ son with Gaia, Typhoeus , was a monster worthy of his dreaded father
Greek Mythology – Mythopedia Greek mythology is the body of work detailing the origins of the ancient Hellenic world and the many deities who ruled over it It includes the histories of gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters, as well as explanations for many important religious rituals