What does tantalus mean? Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing. Tantalus(ProperNoun) A Phrygian king who was condemned to remain in Tartarus, chin deep in water, with fruit-laden branches hanging above his head; whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water and fruit receded out of reach. Origin: Latin Tantalus, from Greek Τανταλος ‘Tantalus’, a Phrygian king in Greek mythology who was condemned to stand in a pool of water which receded every time he tried to drink, and with overhanging branches of fruit which pulled back whenever he tried to eat.

Webster Dictionary(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition: Tantalus(noun) a Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them Tantalus(noun) a genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Tantalus Tantalus was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops, Niobe and Broteas, and was a son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto. Thus, like other heroes in Greek mythology such as Theseus and the Dioskouroi, Tantalus had both a hidden, divine parent and a mortal one.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Tantalus tan′ta-lus, n. the wood-ibis, a genus of birds of the stork family, quite distinct from the true ibises. The Nuttall Encyclopedia(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Tantalus in the Greek mythology a Lydian king, who, being admitted from blood relationship to the banquets of the gods, incurred their displeasure by betraying their secrets, and was consigned to the nether world and compelled to suffer the constant pangs of hunger and thirst, though he stood up to the chin in water, and had ever before him the offer of the richest fruits, both of which receded from him as he attempted to reach them, while a huge rock hung over him, ever threatening to fall and crush him with its weight. Numerology The numerical value of tantalus in Chaldean Numerology is: 9 Pythagorean Numerology Tantalus: Definition with Tantalus Pictures and Photos Derivative terms: Tantalise , Tantalize Definition of Tantalus 1. n.

A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. Definition of Tantalus 1. Proper noun. (Greek mythology) A Phrygian king who was condemned to remain in Tartarus, chin deep in water, with fruit-laden branches hanging above his head; whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water and fruit receded out of reach. ¹ 2. Noun. A stork of the genus ''Mycteria'' (formerly ''Tantalus''), especially the American wood ibis, ''Mycteria americana''. ¹ 3. Noun. A stand in which to lock up drink decanters while keeping them visible. ¹ 4. Noun. Something of an evasive or retreating nature, something consistently out of reach; a tantalising thing. ¹ ¹ Source: wiktionary.com 1. a case for wine bottles [n -ES] Medical Definition of Tantalus 1. 1.

A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. 2. A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. Tantalus's cup, a philosophical toy, consisting of a cup, within which is the figure of a man, and within the figure a siphon, the longer arm of which passes down through the bottom of the cup, and allows the escape of any liquid that may be poured in, when it reaches as high as the bend of the siphon, which is just below the level of the mouth of the figure in the cup. Origin: L, from Gr. Tantalos.

Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) Tantalus Pictures Click the following link to bring up a new window with an automated collection of images related to the term: Tantalus Images Lexicographical Neighbors of Tantalus Literary usage of Tantalus Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature: 1. Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge by Charles Knight (1842) "Cuvier places the genus tantalus between the Open- beaks (Hians, ... He notices the following species : the American tantalus, tantalus ..." 2. A Dictionary of Science, Literature, & Art: Comprising the Definitions and by George William Cox (1867) "tantalus lives in a golden palace forth on his ill-starred journey. ... $>•_ lik" tantalus, the sun may look on the from of the earth or on the clear rivers ..." 3.

Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge by Charles Knight (1842) "Of tantalus Ibis, he remarks that it is white slightly clouded with purple on the wings, with a yellow beak, and the skin of the face naked and red, ..." 4. The Mythology and Fables of the Ancients, Explain'd from History by Banier (Antoine) (1739) "This Theft is a Point of Mythology not much known: And indeed the common Opinion is, that tantalus fuf- fers in Hell for having ..." 5. Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age by William Ewart Gladstone (1858) "We are to remember that Homer has nowhere asserted the connection between Pelops and tantalus, or between tantalus and Phrygia. ..." 6. Elementary Treatise on Natural Philosophy by Augustin Privat-Deschanel (1884) "Vase of tantalus. TTl/ HA' = (H - h) (L - h sec a), whence L = It see a + =-T — -,. ... Cup of tantalus.

— The siphon may be employed to produce the ..." Other Resources Relating to: Tantalus Words people are searching for today: Tantalus - Free definitions by Babylon Tantalus Download this dictionary Tantalus n. (Greek Mythology) wicked king who deceived the gods and was punished and sent to Hades where he was tortured with eternal thirst and hunger, son of Zeus and father of Niobe Download this dictionary Tantalus Tantalus (, Tántalos) was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus . He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops , Niobe and Broteas , and was a son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto . Thus, like other heroes in Greek mythology such as Theseus and the Dioskouroi , Tantalus had both a hidden, divine parent and a mortal one.

Meaning of Tantalus tantalus Decorative stand, case or box for cut-glass decanters, fashionable from the mid- 19thC until the Edwardian period in Britain. It is usually for two or three decanters, but can be for up to six. The decanters can only be removed by raising or lowering the overhead handle or bar which locks them in place. tapestry Handwoven fabric in which a design o â€¦... Tantalus HMS Tantalus was a British T Class patrol type submarine of 1090 tons displacement launched in 1943. HMS Tantalus had a top speed of 15.25 knots surfaced and 9 knots submerged, carried a complement of 53 and was armed with one 4 inch dual-purpose gun; one 20 mm anti-aircraft gun; three machine-guns and about ten 21 inch torpedo tubes. Tantalus [Oahu] Tantalus is an extinct cinder cone in the southern Ko{Okina}olau Range on the Hawaiian Island of O{Okina}ahu. It also has a summit crater, Tantalus Crater.

The cinder cone formed after the demise of Ko{Okina}olau Volcano, during a time of rejuvenated stage volcanism in southeastern O{Okina}ahu that also formed Punchbowl Crater, Diamo... Tan'ta·lus noun [ Latin , from Greek Ta`ntalos .] (Gr. Myth.) 1. A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches ... tantalus 1. A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. ... 2. <ornithology> A genus of... Tantalus In Greek mythology, Tantalus was a son of Zeus. He was king of Phrygia, Lydia.

He was admitted to the table of the gods, but displeased them and was punished by being put in a lake such that he just couldn't reach the water with his lips, and being tempted by fruit above him which again was just out of reach. Tantalus In Greek mythology, a king of Lydia, son of Zeus, and father of Pelops and Niobe. He offended the gods by divulging their secrets and serving them human flesh at a banquet. His crimes were punished in Tartarus (a part of the underworld for the wicked) by the provision of food and drink he could not reach. The word `tantalize` derives from... Tantalus [son of Broteas] In Greek mythology Tantalus, not to be confused with his more famous grandfather and namesake (Tantalus), who was also called Atys, was the son of Broteas. He ruled over the city of Lydia. He was the first husband of Clytemnestra and was slain by Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, a soldier in the Trojan War, who made Clytemnestra...

Tantalus [disambiguation] There are four people named Tantalus in Greek mythology: The English verb Tantalize is a derivative of this name as an allusion of the most famous. Tantalus may also refer to: == Naval == == Astronomy == ==Geography== ==Objets d`Art== Tantalus (cabinet) design patented by Betjemann for two or three decanters in a locked woo... Tantalus Tantalus (Τάνταλος, Tántalos) was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops, Niobe and Broteas... Tantalus : definition of Tantalus and synonyms of Tantalus (English) Not to be confused with Tantalus son of Broteas . Karagöl ("The black lake") in Mount Yamanlar , İzmir , Turkey , associated with the accounts surrounding Tantalus and named after him as "Lake Tantalus".

Tantalus ( Greek Τάνταλος, Tántalos) was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus : to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops , Niobe and Broteas , and was a son of Zeus [1] and the nymph Plouto . Thus, like other heroes in Greek mythology such as Theseus and the Dioskouroi , Tantalus had both a hidden, divine sire and a mortal one. Contents 10 References Historical background There may have been a historical Tantalus - possibly the ruler of an Anatolian city named "Tantalís", [2] "the city of Tantalus", or of a city named "Sipylus" [3] Pausanias reports that there was a port under his name and a sepulchre of him "by no means obscure", in the same region.

Tantalus is referred to as " Phrygian " and sometimes even as "King of Phrygia ", [4] although his city was located in the western extremity of Anatolia where Lydia was to emerge as a state before the beginning of the first millennium BC, and not in the traditional heartland of Phrygia, situated more inland. References to his son as "Pelops the Lydian" led some scholars to the conclusion that there would be good grounds for believing that he belonged to a primordial house of Lydia . Other versions name his father as Tmolus , the name of a king of Lydia and, like Sipylus, of another mountain in ancient Lydia. The location of Tantalus' mortal mountain-fathers generally placed him in Lydia; [5] and more seldom in Phrygia [6] or Paphlagonia , [7] all in Asia Minor .

The identity of his wife is variously given: generally as Dione [8] , but whose name may simply mean "The Goddess," or perhaps as the Pleiad with that name; or as Eurythemista , a daughter of the river-god Xanthus [9] ; or Euryanassa , daughter of Pactolus , another river-god [10] , both of them in Anatolia ; or Clytia, the child of Amphidamantes (Graves 1960, section 108). Tantalus, through Pelops , was the founder of the House of Atreus which was named after his grandson. Tantalus was also the Great-grandfather of Agamemnon The geographer Strabo , quoting earlier sources, states that the wealth of Tantalus was derived from the mines of Phrygia and Mount Sipylus . Near Mount Sipylus archaeological features that have been associated with Tantalus and his house since Antiquity.

Near Mount Yamanlar in İzmir (ancient Smyrna ), where the Lake Karagöl (Lake Tantalus) associated with the accounts surrounding him is found, is a monument mentioned by Pausanias : the tholos "tomb of Tantalus" (later Christianized as "Saint Charalambos' tomb") and another one in Mount Sipylus, [11] and where a "throne of Pelops", an altar or bench carved in rock and conjecturally associated with his son is found. A more famous momument, a full-faced statue carved in rock mentioned by Pausanias is a statue of Cybele , said by Pausianias to have been carved by Broteas is in fact Hittite. Further afield, based on a similarity between the names Tantalus and Hantili , it has been suggested that the name Tantalus may have derived from that of these two Hittite kings. [12] Story of Tantalus This box: In mythology, Tantalus became one of the inhabitants of Tartarus , the deepest portion of the Underworld, reserved for the punishment of evildoers ; there Odysseus saw him.

[13] The association of Tantalus with the underworld is underscored by the names of his mother Plouto ("riches", as in gold and other mineral wealth), and grandmother, Chthonia ("earth"). Tantalus was initially known for having been welcomed to Zeus' table in Olympus , like Ixion . There he is said to have misbehaved and stolen ambrosia and nectar to bring it back to his people, [14] and revealed the secrets of the gods. [15] Most famously, Tantalus offered up his son, Pelops , as sacrifice. He cut Pelops up, boiled him, and served him up in a banquet for the gods. The gods became aware of the gruesome nature of the menu, so they didn't touch the offering; only Demeter , distraught by the loss of her daughter, Persephone , absentmindedly ate part of the boy's shoulder. Clotho , one of the three Fates , ordered by Zeus, brought the boy to life again (she collected the parts of the body and boiled them in a sacred cauldron), rebuilding his shoulder with one wrought of ivory made by Hephaestus and presented by Demeter.

The revived Pelops grew to be an extraordinarily handsome youth. The god Poseidon took him to Mount Olympus to teach him to use chariots . Later, Zeus threw Pelops out of Olympus due to his anger at Tantalus. The Greeks of classical times claimed to be horrified by Tantalus's doings; cannibalism , human sacrifice and infanticide were atrocities and taboo . Tantalus's punishment for his act, now a proverbial term for temptation without satisfaction (the source of the English word tantalise [16] ), was to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Either he was afraid of drowning [17] or that whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water receded before he could get any. Over his head towers a threatening stone like the one that Sisyphus is punished to roll up a hill. [18] This fate has cursed him with eternal deprivation of nourishment.

In a different story, Tantalus was blamed for indirectly having stolen the dog made of gold created by Hephaestus (god of metals and smithing) for Rhea to watch over infant Zeus. Tantalus's friend Pandareus stole the dog and gave it to Tantalus for safekeeping. When asked later by Pandareus to return the dog, Tantalus denied that he had it, saying he "had neither seen nor heard of a golden dog." According to Robert Graves, this incident is why an enormous stone hangs over Tantalus's head. Others state that it was Tantalus who stole the dog, and gave it to Pandareus for safekeeping. But Tantalus was also the founder of the cursed House of Atreus in which variations on these atrocities continued. Misfortunes also occurred as a result of these acts, making the house the subject of many Greek Tragedies . Tantalus's grave-sanctuary stood on Sipylus [19] but honours were paid him at Argos , where local tradition claimed to possess his bones.

[20] In Lesbos , there was another hero-shrine in the small settlement of Polion and a mountain named after Tantalos. [21] Interpretations of the figure of Tantalus The ancient tale of Tantalus reaffirms that human sacrifice and infanticide are taboo in Ancient and Classical Greek culture. Yet it seems to suggest that human sacrifice had once been offered in archaic times, especially to Demeter.[ citation needed ] Alternatively, Tantalus can be seen as a Promethean figure who divulges divine secrets to mortals. He presides over sacred initiations consisting of mystic death and transfiguration. His dismemberment of Pelops and Pelops' resurrection can be seen as an archetypal shamanic initiation.[ citation needed ] Other characters with the same name There are two other characters named Tantalus in Greek mythology, both minor figures and both descendants of the above Tantalus. Broteas is said to have had a son named Tantalus , who ruled over the city of Pisa in the Peloponnesus . This Tantalus was the first husband of Clytemnestra .

He was slain by Agamemnon , King of Mycenae , who made Clytemnestra his wife. The third Tantalus was a son of Thyestes , who was murdered by his uncle Atreus , and fed to his unsuspecting father. Related terms The name "Tantalus" is the origin of the English verb "to tantalize". The underlying idea is that when someone is tantalized, that person goes through the same experience as Tantalus: something desirable is always just out of that person's reach. [22] A Tantalus, by an obvious analogy, is also the term for a type of drinks decanter stand in which the bottle stoppers are firmly clamped down by a locked metal bar, as a means of preventing servants from stealing the master's liquor. The decanters themselves, however, remain clearly visible. The chemical element tantalum (symbol Ta, atomic number 73) is named after the mythological Tantalus; its lack of reactivity, and the resulting difficulty in isolating the pure metal from ore , gave the element its name, by analogy; the pure metal tantalized chemists.

In naval history, an early 20th century British Merchant Navy freight ship SS Tantalus and a United States Navy landing craft repair ship of the World War II ( USS Tantalus (ARL-27) ) were named after Tantalus. In serial television fiction, the episode " Mirror, Mirror " of Star Trek: The Original Series , a mirror universe device that allows users to monitor, transport to or eliminate a person from a location within its range was termed a "Tantalus device". Emily Dickinson 's poem "'Heaven'-is what I cannot reach!" makes allusions to Tantalus in lines in the first stanza, especially lines two through four: "'Heaven'-is what I cannot reach!/The Apple on the Tree-/Provided it do hopeless-hang-/That- 'Heaven' is- to Me!" [23] In Susanna Clarke's " Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell " reference is made to Tantalus: "This wine is one of the vintages of Hell--but do not allow yourself to be dissuaded from tasting it upon that account! I dare say you have heard of Tantalus?

The wicked king who baked his little son in a pie and ate him? He has been condemned to stand up to his chin in a pool of water he cannot drink, beneath a vine laden with grapes he cannot eat. This wine is made from those grapes. And, since the vine was planted there for the sole purpose of tormenting Tantalus, you may be sure the grapes have an excellent flavour and aroma-and so does the wine." [24] An episode of Stargate SG-1 is named after the story, The Torment of Tantalus. In the science fiction video-game series Mass Effect , the SSV Normandy is equipped with a "Tantalus drive core." In the PS1 game Final Fantasy IX, the lead protagonist, Zidane, starts off travelling with a group of thieves called Tantalus. Tantalus in art Tantalus - Everything2.com Tantalus A tantalus is a lock able holder to store decanter s of wine or liquor . So, you can display the stuff in bottle s, and it looks nice and classy , but no one can steal a swig of it unless they have the key.

It is named after the King Tantalus in Greek mythology , who was stuck forever in Hades , unable to eat or drink the food, wine and water that was just out of his reach. by theboy Thu Dec 05 2002 at 14:26:08 In ancient Greece , woe betide anyone who got on the wrong side of the Gods. Those who did tended to pay a hefty price for their foolhardiness, but few paid as deeply as Tantalus. The son of Zeus , Tantalus was the extremely wealthy king of Sipylus , or Phrygia , or Paphlagonia , depending on which account you read. What is generally agreed on, though, is that his kingdom was somewhere in Asia Minor . Old Zeus could be the nepotistic sort when it favoured him, and allowed Tantalus to dine with the Gods. Sadly for Tantalus, his mortal fallibility got the better of him. Big mouth strikes again In some accounts, Tantalus' started bringing about his demise when he started blabbing to his fellow mortals about the secrets of the Gods. He even had the cheek to try to share their food with the other mortals.

Naturally, word of this displeased Zeus, who until then had great faith in Tantalus. But if this wasn't bad enough... Eating people is wrong The more commonly cited tale of Tantalus' fall is this: In order to test the Gods' powers of foresight , he killed his own son, Pelops , mutilated the body, cooked and served it to the Gods. Unsurprisingly, Tantalus (mortal, foolish) was rumbled by the Gods (immortal, pretty clued up), although not before Demeter , who was apparently distracted by thoughts of her daughter Persephone 's abduction by Hades , had taken a bite out of what turned out to be Pelops' shoulder. When the Gods put Pelops back together again, and brought him back to life, Demeter replaced the missing part with one made from ivory . (Incidentally, according to the seer Helenus , one of the requirements for the taking of Troy was that this bone be present.) Crime and Punishment Zeus was understandably pretty mad at all this, and ordered Tantalus' punishment.

He was to spend eternity in Tartarus , home of the vanquished Titans , where he joined Sisyphus and Ixion . So at least he had someone to talk to every now and then, although to be fair Sisyphus was probably too work-centric to be much of a conversationist, and as for Ixion, well, imagine how much you'd feel like small-talk if you'd been sentenced to an eternity chained to a fiery revolving wheel). Tantalus, meanwhile, stood up to his neck in purest water, while fruit trees surrounded him. Sadly for Tantalus, he was condemned to eternal hunger and thirst: the water receded if ever he stooped to drink, while a wind would blow the fruit out of his reach should he try to take fruit from the branches around his head. In The Odyssey , Homer describes the scene: "I saw likewise stand, Up to the chin, amidst a liquid lake, Tormented Tantalus, yet could not slake His burning thirst.

Oft as his scornful cup Th' old man would taste, so oft 'twas swallow'd up, And all the black earth to his feet descried, Divine power (plaguing him) the lake still dried.

About his head, on high trees, clust'ring, hung Delicious figs , and many fruit trees more Of other burden; whose alluring store When th' old soul strived to pluck, the winds from sight, In gloomy vapours, made them vanish quite."¹ The Sins of the father At least his imprisonment would have spared Tantalus some of the facts of his future family history: Niobe , Tantalus' daughter was turned to stone, but not before her children had been slaughtered, as accounted in the Illiad: " Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver bow, to punish Niobe, and Diana slew the daughters, because Niobe had vaunted herself against Leto ; she said Leto had borne two children only, whereas she had herself borne many- whereon the two killed the many."² Pelops, his son, was killed and cooked, as we already know, but having been resurrected, later found himself pursued by the army of Ilus , the founder of Troy. Atreus and Thyestes , his grandsons, didn't get on tremendously well.

The low-point of a stormy relationship came when Atreus, following the family tradition, killed some of Thyestes' children, and served them to him à la Tantalus. Agamemnon , a great-grandson, was murdered by another great-grandson, Aegisthus , who was in turn killed by a great-great-grandson, Orestes . Sources Tantalus, by James Hunter: Genealogical guide to Greek mythology, by Carlos Parada: 1. Chapman, George, trans. (1559?–1634). The Odysseys of Homer, vol. 1. 1857, 11.794-806 2. Butler, Samuel, trans. The Iliad, by Homer, 24.499-505 Wed Dec 22 1999 at 3:41:20 Tan"ta*lus (?), n. [L., from Gr. Ta`ntalos.] Gr. Myth. 1.

A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. 2. Zool. A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. Tantalus's cup Physics, a philosophical toy, consisting of a cup, within which is the figure of a man, and within the figure a siphon, the longer arm of which passes down through the bottom of the cup, and allows the escape of any liquid that may be poured in, when it reaches as high as the bend of the siphon, which is just below the level of the mouth of the figure in the cup.

Translation of Tantalus in English More: English to Turkish translation of Tantalus Tantalus in Italian Tantalo, figlio di Zeus e padre di Niobe, re malvagio che gli dei punirono scacciandolo nell'Ade e torturandolo con sete e fame inestinguibili More: English to Italian translation of Tantalus Tantalus in French Tantale (Mythologie grecque), fils de Zeus et père de Niobé, roi pervers qui déçut les dieux et qui fut puni et envoyé aux enfers tantale, oiseau tropical qui ressemble à la cigogne, petit casier contenant des boissons alcoolisées (usage britannique) More: English to French translation of Tantalus Tantalus in German Tantalos, König der die Götter täuschte und nach Hades geschickt wurde wo er ewigen Hunger und Durst erleiden musste, Sohn des Zeus und Vater von Niobe (Griechische Mythologie) (britisches Englisch) schließbares gestell oder Regal mit Karaffen alkoholischer Getränke gefüllt tantalus

 \tan"ta*lus\ (?), n.

[l., from gr. ta`ntalos.] (gr. myth.) 1. a phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. 2. (zo?l.) a genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. More: English to English translation of Tantalus Tantalus (, Tántalos) was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops, Niobe and Broteas, and was a son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto. Thus, like other heroes in Greek mythology such as Theseus and the Dioskouroi, Tantalus had both a hidden, divine parent and a mortal one. See more at Wikipedia.org...

More: English to English translation of Tantalus Noun 1. (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 (hypernym) mythical being (derivation) tease, razz, rag, cod, tantalize, tantalise, bait, taunt, twit, rally, ride (classification) Greek mythology More: English to English translation of Tantalus (n.) A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them. (n.) A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. Greek and Roman Mythology search engine by freefind Greek and Roman Mythology Most of the Greek deities were adopted by the Romans, although in many cases there was a change of name. In the list below, information is given under the Greek name; the name in parentheses is the Roman equivalent.

However, all Latin names are listed with cross references to the Greek ones. In addition, there are several deities that are exclusively Roman. Acheron One of several Rivers of Underworld: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Achilles Greek warrior; slew Hector at Troy; slain by Paris, who wounded him in his vulnerable heel. Actaeon Hunter; surprised Artemis bathing; changed by her to stag; and killed by his dogs. Admetus King of Thessaly; his wife, Alcestis, offered to die in his place. Adonis Beautiful youth loved by Aphrodite. Aeacus One of three judges of dead in Hades; son of Zeus. Aeetes King of Colchis; father of Medea; keeper of Golden Fleece. Aegeus Father of Theseus; believing Theseus killed in Crete, he drowned himself; Aegean Sea named for him.

Aegisthus Son of Thyestes; slew Atreus; with Clytemnestra, his paramour, slew Agamemnon; slain by Orestes. Aegyptus Brother of Danaus; his sons, except Lynceus, slain by Danaides. Aeneas Trojan; son of Anchises and Aphrodite; after fall of Troy, led his followers eventually to Italy; loved and deserted Dido. Aeolus One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Aeson King of Ioclus; father of Jason; overthrown by his brother Pelias; restored to youth by Medea. Aether Mother of Theseus. Agamemnon King of Mycenae; son of Atreus; brother of Menelaus; leader of Greeks against Troy; slain on his return home by Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Agiaia One of several Graces: Beautiful goddesses: Aglaia (Brilliance), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Bloom); daughters of Zeus. (Brilliance), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Bloom); daughters of Zeus. Ajax Greek warrior; killed himself at Troy because Achilles's armour was awarded to Odysseus. Alcestis Wife of Admetus; offered to die in his place but saved from death by Hercules. Alcmene Wife of Amphitryon; mother by Zeus of Hercules. Alcyone One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible (Merope is said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal). Alecto One of several Furies: Avenging spirits; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; known also as Erinyes or Eumenides. Alectryon Youth changed by Ares into cock.

Althaea Wife of Oeneus; mother of Meleager. Amazons Female warriors in Asia Minor; supported Troy against Greeks. Amphion Musician; husband of Niobe; charmed stones to build fortifications for Thebes. Amphitrite Sea goddess; wife of Poseidon. Amphitryon Daughter of Cepheus; chained to cliff for monster to devour; rescued by Perseus. Anteia Wife of Proetus; tried to induce Bellerophon to elope with her. Anteros God who avenged unrequited love. Antigone Daughter of Oedipus; accompanied him to Colonus; performed burial rite for Polynices and hanged herself. Antinous Leader of suitors of Penelope; slain by Odysseus. Aphrodite (Venus) Goddess of love and beauty; daughter of Zeus; mother of Eros. Apollo God of beauty, poetry, music; later identified with Helios as Phoebus Apollo; son of Zeus and Leto.

Aquilo One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Arachne Maiden who challenged Athena to weaving contest; changed to spider. Ares (Mars) God of war; son of Zeus and Hera. Argo Ship in which Jason and followers sailed to Colchis for Golden Fleece. Argus Monster with hundred eyes; slain by Hermes; his eyes placed by Hera into peacock's tail. Ariadne Daughter of Minos; aided Theseus in slaying Minotaur; deserted by him on island of Naxos and married to Dionysus. Arion Musician; thrown overboard by pirates but saved by dolphin. Artemis (Diana) Goddess of moon; huntress; twin sister of Apollo. Asclepius (Aesculapius) Mortal son of Apollo; slain by Zeus for raising dead; later deified as god of medicine. Also known as Asklepios.

Astarte Phoenician goddess of love; variously identified with Aphrodite, Selene, and Artemis. Astraea Goddess of Justice; daughter of Zeus and Themis. Atalanta Princess who challenged her suitors to a foot race; Hippomenes won race and married her. Athena (Minerva) Goddess of wisdom; known poetically as Pallas Athene; sprang fully armed from head of Zeus. Atlas Titan; held world on his shoulders as punishment for warring against Zeus; son of Iapetus. Atreus King of Mycenae; father of Menelaus and Agamemnon; brother of Thyestes, three of whose sons he slew and served to him at banquet; slain by Aegisthus. Atropos One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate, Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae.

Auster One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Avernus Infernal regions; name derived from small vaporous lake near Vesuvius which was fabled to kill birds and vegetation. Bellerophon Corinthian hero; killed Chimera with aid of Pegasus; tried to reach Olympus on Pegasus and was thrown to his death. Bellona Roman goddess of war. Boreas One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Briareus Monster of hundred hands; son of Uranus and Gaea. Briseis Captive maiden given to Achilles; taken by Agamemnon in exchange for loss of Chryseis, which caused Achilles to cease fighting, until death of Patroclus. Cadmus Brother of Europa; planter of dragon seeds from which first Thebans sprang.

Calliope One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Calypso Sea nymph; kept Odysseus on her island Ogygia for seven years. Cassandra Daughter of Priam; prophetess who was never believed; slain with Agamemnon. Castor One of Dioscuri, Twins Castor and Pollux; sons of Leda by Zeus. Celaeno One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible (Merope is said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal).

Centaurs Beings half man and half horse; lived in mountains of Thessaly. Cephalus Hunter; accidentally killed his wife Procris with his spear. Cepheus King of Ethiopia; father of Andromeda. Cerberus Three-headed dog guarding entrance to Hades. Chaos Formless void; personified as first of gods. Charon Boatman on Styx who carried souls of dead to Hades; son of Erebus. Charybdis Female monster; personification of whirlpool. Chimera Female monster with head of lion, body of goat, tail of serpent; killed by Bellerophon. Chiron Personification of time. Chryseis Captive maiden given to Agamemnon; his refusal to accept ransom from her father Chryses caused Apollo to send plague on Greeks besieging Troy. Circe Sorceress; daughter of Helios; changed Odysseus's men into swine.

Clio One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Clotho One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Clytemnestra Wife of Agamemnon, whom she slew with aid of her paramour, Aegisthus; slain by her son Orestes.

Cocytus One of several Rivers of Underworld: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Creon Father of Jocasta; forbade burial of Polynices; ordered burial alive of Antigone. Creusa Princess of Corinth, for whom Jason deserted Medea; slain by Medea, who sent her poisoned robe; also known as Glauke. Creusa Wife of Aeneas; died fleeing Troy. Cronus (Saturn) Titan; god of harvests; son of Uranus and Gaea; dethroned by his son Zeus. Cybele Anatolian nature goddess; adopted by Greeks and identified with Rhea. Cyclopes Race of one-eyed giants (singular: Cyclops). Daedalus Athenian artificer; father of Icarus; builder of Labyrinth in Crete; devised wings attached with wax for him and Icarus to escape Crete. Danae Princess of Argos; mother of Perseus by Zeus, who appeared to her in form of golden shower.

Danaides Daughters of Danaus; at his command, all except Hypermnestra slew their husbands, the sons of Aegyptus. Danaus Brother of Aegyptus; father of Danaides; slain by Lynceus. Daphne Nymph; pursued by Apollo; changed to laurel tree. Decuma One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Deino One of several Graeae: Sentinels for Gorgons; Deino, Enyo, and Pephredo; had one eye among them, which passed from one to another. Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of agriculture; mother of Persephone. Dido Founder and queen of Carthage; stabbed herself when deserted by Aeneas. Diomedes Greek hero; with Odysseus, entered Troy and carried off Palladium, sacred statue of Athena.

Diomedes Owner of man-eating horses, which Hercules, as ninth labour, carried off. Dione Titan goddess; mother by Zeus of Aphrodite. Dionysus (Bacchus) God of wine; son of Zeus and Semele. Dioscuri Twins Castor and Pollux; sons of Leda by Zeus. Dryads God of love; son of Aphrodite. Eteocles Son of Oedipus, whom he succeeded to rule alternately with Polynices; refused to give up throne at end of year; he and Polynices slew each other. Eumenides One of several Furies: Avenging spirits; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; known also as Erinyes or Eumenides. Euphrosyne One of several Graces: Beautiful goddesses: Aglaia (Brilliance), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Bloom); daughters of Zeus. Europa Mortal loved by Zeus, who, in form of white bull, carried her off to Crete.

Eurus One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Euryale One of several Gorgons: Female monsters; Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno; had snakes for hair; their glances turned mortals to stone. Eurydice King of Argos; imposed twelve labours on Hercules. Euterpe One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Fates Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae.

Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Fauns Roman deities of woods and groves. Favonius One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Flora Avenging spirits; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; known also as Erinyes or Eumenides. Gaea Goddess of earth; daughter of Chaos; mother of Titans; known also as Ge, Gea, Gaia, etc. Galatea Statue of maiden carved from ivory by Pygmalion; given life by Aphrodite. Galatea Sea nymph; loved by Polyphemus. Ganymede Beautiful boy; successor to Hebe as cupbearer of gods. Glaucus Mortal who became sea divinity by eating magic grass. Golden Fleece Fleece from ram that flew Phrixos to Colchis; Aeetes placed it under guard of dragon; carried off by Jason.

Gorgons Female monsters; Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno; had snakes for hair; their glances turned mortals to stone. Graces Beautiful goddesses: Aglaia (Brilliance), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Bloom); daughters of Zeus. Graeae Sentinels for Gorgons; Deino, Enyo, and Pephredo; had one eye among them, which passed from one to another. Hades (Dis) Name sometimes given Pluto; also, abode of dead, ruled by Pluto. Haemon Son of Creon; promised husband of Antigone; killed himself in her tomb. Hamadryads Monsters with heads of women and bodies of birds. Hebe (Juventas) Goddess of youth; cupbearer of gods before Ganymede; daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hecate Goddess of sorcery and witchcraft. Hector Son of Priam; slayer of Patroclus; slain by Achilles. Hecuba Wife of Priam. Helen Fairest woman in world; daughter of Zeus and Leda; wife of Menelaus; carried to Troy by Paris, causing Trojan War.

Heliades Daughters of Helios; mourned for Phaethon and were changed to poplar trees. Helios (Sol) God of sun; later identified with Apollo. Helle Sister of Phrixos; fell from ram of Golden Fleece; water where she fell named Hellespont. Hephaestus (Vulcan) God of fire; celestial blacksmith; son of Zeus and Hera; husband of Aphrodite. Hera (Juno) Queen of heaven; wife of Zeus. Hercules Hero and strong man; son of Zeus and Alcmene; performed twelve labours or deeds to be free from bondage under Eurystheus; after death, his mortal share was destroyed, and he became immortal. Also known as Herakles or Heracles.

Labours: (1) killing Nemean lion; (2) killing Lernaean Hydra; (3) capturing Erymanthian boar; (4) capturing Cerynean hind; (5) killing man-eating Stymphalian birds; (6) procuring girdle of Hippolyte; (7) cleaning Augean stables; (8) capturing Cretan bull; (9) capturing man-eating horses of Diomedes; (10) capturing cattle of Geryon; (11) procuring golden apples of Hesperides; (12) bringing Cerberus up from Hades. Hermes (Mercury) God of physicians and thieves; messenger of gods; son of Zeus and Maia. Hero Priestess of Aphrodite; Leander swam Hellespont nightly to see her; drowned herself at his death. Hesperus Titan; father of Atlas, Epimetheus, and Prometheus. Icarus Son of Daedalus; flew too near sun with wax-attached wings and fell into sea and was drowned. Io Mortal maiden loved by Zeus; changed by Hera into heifer.

Iobates King of Lycia; sent Bellerophon to slay Chimera. Iphigenia Daughter of Agamemnon; offered as sacrifice to Artemis at Aulis; carried by Artemis to Tauris where she became priestess; escaped from there with Orestes. Iris Goddess of rainbow; messenger of Zeus and Hera. Ismene Daughter of Oedipus; sister of Antigone. Iulus Son of Aeneas. Ixion King of Lapithae; for making love to Hera he was bound to endlessly revolving wheel in Tartarus. Janus Roman god of gates and doors; represented with two opposite faces. Jason Son of Aeson; to gain throne of Ioclus from Pelias, went to Colchis and brought back Golden Fleece; married Medea; deserted her for Creusa. Jocasta Wife of Laius; mother of Oedipus; unwittingly became wife of Oedipus; hanged herself when relationship was discovered.

Lachesis One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Laius Father of Oedipus, by whom he was slain. Laocoon Priest of Apollo at Troy; warned against bringing wooden horse into Troy; destroyed with his two sons by serpents sent by Athena. Lares Roman ancestral spirits protecting descendants and homes. Lavinia Wife of Aeneas after defeat of Turnus. Leander Swam Hellespont nightly to see Hero; drowned in storm. Leda Mortal loved by Zeus in form of Swan; mother of Helen, Clytemnestra, Dioscuri. Lethe One of several Rivers of Underworld: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Leto (Latona) Mother by Zeus of Artemis and Apollo.

Lucina Roman goddess of childbirth; identified with Juno. Lynceus Son of Aegyptus; husband of Hypermnestra; slew Danaus. Maia Daughter of Atlas; mother of Hermes. Maia One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible (Merope is said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal). Manes Souls of dead Romans, particularly of ancestors. Marsyas Shepherd; challenged Apollo to music contest and lost; flayed alive by Apollo. Medea Sorceress; daughter of Aeetes; helped Jason obtain Golden Fleece; when deserted by him for Creusa, killed her children and Creusa. Medusa Gorgon; slain by Perseus, who cut off her head. Megaera One of several Furies: Avenging spirits; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; known also as Erinyes or Eumenides.

Meleager Son of Althaea; his life would last as long as brand burning at his birth; Althaea quenched and saved it but destroyed it when Meleager slew his uncles. Melpomene One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Memnon Ethiopian king; made immortal by Zeus; son of Tithonus and Eos. Menelaus King of Sparta; son of Atreus; brother of Agamemnon; husband of Helen.

Merope One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible; said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal. Mezentius Cruel Etruscan king; ally of Turnus against Aeneas; slain by Aeneas. Midas King of Phrygia; given gift of turning to gold all he touched. Minos King of Crete; after death, one of three judges of dead in Hades; son of Zeus and Europa. Minotaur Monster, half man and half beast, kept in Labyrinth in Crete; slain by Theseus. Mnemosyne Goddess of memory; mother by Zeus of Muses. Moirae One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Momus God of dreams.

Morta One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Muses Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Naiads Nymphs of waters, streams, and fountains. Napaeae Wood nymphs. Narcissus Beautiful youth loved by Echo; in punishment for not returning her love, he was made to fall in love with his image reflected in pool; pined away and became flower. Nemesis Son of Achilles; slew Priam; also known as Pyrrhus.

Nereids Sea nymphs; attendants on Poseidon. Nestor King of Pylos; noted for wise counsel in expedition against Troy. Nike Goddess of victory. Niobe Daughter of Tantalus; wife of Amphion; her children slain by Apollo and Artemis; changed to stone but continued to weep her loss. Nona One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Notus One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Nymphs Beautiful maidens; inferior deities of nature. Nyx (Nox) Ocean nymphs; daughters of Oceanus. Oceanus Eldest of Titans; god of waters.

Odysseus (Ulysses) King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; wandered ten years after fall of Troy before arriving home. Oedipus King of Thebes; son of Laius and Jocasta; unwittingly murdered Laius and married Jocasta; tore his eyes out when relationship was discovered. Oenone Nymph of Mount Ida; wife of Paris, who abandoned her; refused to cure him when he was poisoned by arrow of Philoctetes at Troy. Oreads Mountain nymphs. Orestes Son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra; brother of Electra; slew Clytemnestra and Aegisthus; pursued by Furies until his purification by Apollo. Orion Hunter; slain by Artemis and made heavenly constellation. Orpheus Famed musician; son of Apollo and Muse Calliope; husband of Eurydice. Pales Roman goddess of shepherds and herdsmen. Palinurus Aeneas' pilot; fell overboard in his sleep and was drowned. Pan (Faunus) God of woods and fields; part goat; son of Hermes.

Pandora Opener of box containing human ills; mortal wife of Epimetheus. Parcae One of several Fates: Goddesses of destiny; Clotho (Spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (Determiner of length), and Atropos (Cutter of thread); also called Moirae. Identified by Romans with their goddesses of fate; Nona, Decuma, and Morta; called Parcae. Paris Son of Priam; gave apple of discord to Aphrodite, for which she enabled him to carry off Helen; slew Achilles at Troy; slain by Philoctetes. Patroclus Great friend of Achilles; wore Achilles' armour and was slain by Hector. Pegasus Winged horse that sprang from Medusa's body at her death; ridden by Bellerophon when he slew Chimera. Pelias King of Ioclus; seized throne from his brother Aeson; sent Jason for Golden Fleece; slain unwittingly by his daughters at instigation of Medea. Pelops Son of Tantalus; his father cooked and served him to gods; restored to life; Peloponnesus named for him.

Penates Wife of Odysseus; waited faithfully for him for ten years while putting off numerous suitors. Pephredo One of several Graeae: Sentinels for Gorgons; Deino, Enyo, and Pephredo; had one eye among them, which passed from one to another. Periphetes Giant; son of Hephaestus; slain by Theseus. Persephone (Proserpine) Queen of infernal regions; daughter of Zeus and Demeter; wife of Pluto. Perseus Son of Zeus and Danae; slew Medusa; rescued Andromeda from monster and married her. Phaedra Daughter of Minos; wife of Theseus; caused the death of her stepson, Hippolytus. Phaethon Son of Helios; drove his father's sun chariot and was struck down by Zeus before he set world on fire. Philoctetes Greek warrior who possessed Hercules' bow and arrows; slew Paris at Troy with poisoned arrow. Phineus Betrothed of Andromeda; tried to slay Perseus but turned to stone by Medusa's head.

Phlegethon One of several Rivers of Underworld: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Phosphor One of Dioscuri: Twins Castor and Pollux; sons of Leda by Zeus. Polymnia One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Polynices Son of Oedipus; he and his brother Eteocles killed each other; burial rite, forbidden by Creon, performed by his sister Antigone. Polyphemus Cyclops; devoured six of Odysseus's men; blinded by Odysseus.

Polyxena Daughter of Priam; betrothed to Achilles, whom Paris slew at their betrothal; sacrificed to shade of Achilles. Pomona Wife of Cephalus, who accidentally slew her. Procrustes Giant; stretched or cut off legs of victims to make them fit iron bed; slain by Theseus. Proetus Husband of Anteia; sent Bellerophon to Iobates to be put to death. Prometheus Titan; stole fire from heaven for man. Zeus punished him by chaining him to rock in Caucasus where vultures devoured his liver daily. Proteus Sea god; assumed various shapes when called on to prophesy. Psyche Beloved of Eros; punished by jealous Aphrodite; made immortal and united with Eros. Pygmalion King of Cyprus; carved ivory statue of maiden which Aphrodite gave life as Galatea. Pyramus Babylonian youth; made love to Thisbe through hole in wall; thinking Thisbe slain by lion, killed himself. Python Serpent born from slime left by Deluge; slain by Apollo. Quirinus Brother of Romulus; slain by him.

Rhadamanthus One of three judges of dead in Hades; son of Zeus and Europa. Rhea (Ops) Daughter of Uranus and Gaea; wife of Cronus; mother of Zeus; identified with Cybele. Rivers of Underworld Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Romulus Founder of Rome; he and Remus suckled in infancy by she-wolf; slew Remus; deified by Romans. Sarpedon King of Lycia; son of Zeus and Europa; slain by Patroclus at Troy. Satyrs Hoofed demigods of woods and fields; companions of Dionysus. Sciron Robber; forced strangers to wash his feet, then hurled them into sea where tortoise devoured them; slain by Theseus. Scylla Female monster inhabiting rock opposite Charybdis; menaced passing sailors. Selene Goddess of moon.

Semele Daughter of Cadmus; mother by Zeus of Dionysus; demanded Zeus appear before her in all his splendor and was destroyed by his lightnings. Sibyis Various prophetesses; most famous, Cumaean sibyl, accompanied Aeneas into Hades. Sileni Minor woodland deities similar to satyrs (singular: silenus). Sometimes Silenus refers to eldest of satyrs, son of Hermes or of Pan. Silvanus Roman god of woods and fields. Sinis Giant; bent pines, by which he hurled victims against side of mountain; slain by Theseus. Sirens Minor deities who lured sailors to destruction with their singing. Sisyphus King of Corinth; condemned in Tartarus to roll huge stone to top of hill; it always rolled back down again. Sphinx Monster of Thebes; killed those who could not answer her riddle; slain by Oedipus. Name also refers to other monsters having body of lion, wings, and head and bust of woman.

Sterope One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible (Merope is said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal). Stheno One of several Gorgons: Female monsters; Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno; had snakes for hair; their glances turned mortals to stone. Styx One of several Rivers of Underworld: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (wailing), Lethe (forgetfulness), Phlegethon (fire), Styx (across which souls of dead were ferried by Charon). Symplegades Clashing rocks at entrance to Black Sea; Argo passed through, causing them to become forever fixed. Syrinx Nymph pursued by Pan; changed to reeds, from which he made his pipes. Tantalus Cruel king; father of Pelops and Niobe; condemned in Tartarus to stand chin-deep in lake surrounded by fruit branches; as he tried to eat or drink, water or fruit always receded.

Tartarus Underworld below Hades; often refers to Hades. Taygeta One of several Pleiades: Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope or Asterope, Taygeta; seven daughters of Atlas; transformed into heavenly constellation, of which six stars are visible (Merope is said to have hidden in shame for loving a mortal). Telemachus Son of Odysseus; made unsuccessful journey to find his father. Tellus Roman god of boundaries and landmarks. Terpsichore One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Terra Roman earth goddess.

Thalia One of several Graces: Beautiful goddesses; Aglaia (Brilliance), Euphrosyne (Joy), and Thalia (Bloom); daughters of Zeus. Also one of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Thanatos (Mors) Titan goddess of laws of physical phenomena; daughter of Uranus; mother of Prometheus. Theseus Son of Aegeus; slew Minotaur; married and deserted Ariadne; later married Phaedra. Thisbe Beloved of Pyramus; killed herself at his death. Thyestes Brother of Atreus; Atreus killed three of his sons and served them to him at banquet. Tiresias Blind soothsayer of Thebes.

Tisiphone One of several Furies: Avenging spirits; Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; known also as Erinyes or Eumenides. Titans Early gods from which Olympian gods were derived; children of Uranus and Gaea. Tithonus Mortal loved by Eos; changed into grasshopper. Triton Demigod of sea; son of Poseidon. Turnus King of Rutuli in Italy; betrothed to Lavinia; slain by Aeneas. Urania One of several Muses: Goddesses presiding over arts and sciences: Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric and love poetry), Euterpe (music), Melpomene (tragedy), Polymnia or Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (choral dance and song), Thalia (comedy and bucolic poetry), Urania (astronomy); daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Uranus Personification of Heaven; husband of Gaea; father of Titans; dethroned by his son Cronus.

Vertumnus Roman god of fruits and vegetables; husband of Pomona. Winds Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Zephyrus One of several Winds: Aeolus (keeper of winds), Boreas (Aquilo) (north wind), Eurus (east wind), Notus (Auster) (south wind), Zephyrus (Favonius) (west wind). Zeus (Jupiter)

Question: In Greek mythology, whose punishment was to stand in a lake whose waters receded whenever he tried to drink?
Answer: TANTALUS