Definition & Bedeutung von "tantalus"

Who is "Tantalus"?

Tantalus is a figure from Greek mythology, known for his severe punishment in the afterlife. According to the myth, Tantalus was a king who committed great offenses against the gods, including serving his own son as a meal to them. As a result, he was condemned to eternal torment in the underworld. Tantalus stands in a pool of water that recedes whenever he tries to drink and under fruit trees whose branches move away when he reaches for them. This endless, unreachable thirst and hunger symbolize his constant punishment and the divine retribution for his wrongdoings.