Tantalus (Noun)
Meaning
(Greek mythology) a wicked king and son of Zeus; condemned in Hades to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink and beneath fruit that receded when he reached for it.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- In Greek mythology, Tantalus was a wicked king and son of Zeus who was punished for eternity in the underworld.
- The story of Tantalus serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of defying the gods and engaging in immoral behavior.
- Tantalus was forced to stand in a pool of water that receded every time he tried to quench his thirst, a constant reminder of his eternal torment.
- The myth of Tantalus has been used to describe situations where something desirable is always just out of reach, a concept that has become known as "tantalizing."
- In the underworld, Tantalus was also surrounded by fruit trees with branches that pulled away whenever he tried to grab a piece of fruit, further exacerbating his suffering.