person
Tantalus
also: Tantalus
A mythological king punished in the underworld, set in water that recedes from his lips and beneath fruit that draws away from his grasp; proverbial for tormenting, unsatisfiable craving.
Reading notes
- The Odes §1.28 father of Pelops
Tantalus, guest of the gods, who died like all the rest despite his honors.
- The Odes §2.13 father of Pelops
Tantalus, likewise charmed out of his suffering by the underworld song.
- The Odes §2.18 Tantalus
Held in the underworld with 'the race of Tantalus,' beyond the reach of wealth.
- The Epodes §17 Tantalus
The underworld sinner forever denied the food and drink before him; a type of unending, hopeless torment.
- The Satires §1.1 Tantalus
A mythological king punished in the underworld amid water and fruit that forever recede from him; the type of self-tormenting, unsatisfiable craving.