TANTALUS


Meaning of TANTALUS in English

In Greek mythology , the king of Sipylus (or Phrygia).

An intimate friend of the gods, he was allowed to dine at their table until he offended them by repeating their secrets on earth. Another version of the myth held that he killed his son Pelops and served him to the gods. In the underworld he was placed up to his neck in water, which flowed away every time he tried to drink, just as the branches overhead swung out of reach whenever he tried to pick the fruit from them.

Britannica English dictionary.      Английский словарь Британика.