TANTALUS
A MORTALS FALL FROM DEVINE FAVOR
THE EXTRACT
The word ‘Tantalise’, means to tease or torment with the sight or promise of something that is unattainable, this is the story of Tantalus.
Tantalus, a wealthy, powerful king within greek mythology made famous for his cruel and eternal punishment in the afterlife. In his constant strive for more power, and more riches Tantalus invited the Gods to a banquet. It was here where he offered the Gods his son, Pelops, by cutting him into small pieces and stewing his flesh, all to test the omniscience of the Greek Gods. Once the Gods became aware of the gruesome nature of the offering they did not touch it. Zeus ordered Pelops to be brought back to life and decided on a punishment for Tantalus. Tantalus was sent to the underworld, Hades, for all of eternity. His eternal punishment was to be stood in a shallow pool of water beneath a lush fruit tree with low-hanging branches. Whenever Tantalus reached for the fruit the branches would raise his intended meal just out of his grasp. Whenever he would bend down to drink from the pool, the water would recede before he had the chance to get any. This eternal frustration became known as the ‘tantalising’ punishment, and the term ‘tantalise’ became to mean to tease or torment, usually someone with something desirable but out of reach.
THE ALLEGORY
The story of Tantalus is one of desire and torment. The overall allegory of Tantalus’s story can be taken from his punishment resulting in his time in the underworld. This image of Tantalus standing in the pool in the depths of Hades can be explored as a metaphor for ambition without fulfilment. We see his punishment as a warning against excess ambition or greed, implying that those who strive for more may never be satisfied, usually resulting in frustration and unfulfillment. The myth of Tantalus serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess and the importance of moderation, selfcontrol and humility.
References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantalus https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tantalus https://chat.openai.com/chat
Tantalus A mortals fall from devine favor
Tantalus
Gioacchino Assereto (1600–1649) [1]
Tantalus laying under low hanging fruit tree in the depth of Hades.
The Feast of Tantalus
Jean-Hugues Taraval (1729-1785) [2]
Zues has Pelops in his grasp, back in his human form, while Tantalus is Punished and escorted away
Tantalus
August Theodor Kaselowsky [3]
Tantalus in the Underworld reaching for fruit on the low hanging braches while they pull away from his grasp.
King Tantalus, Greek Mythology [5]
Tntalus in Hades, standing in a shallow pool of water, under a fruit tree, where he was sent for eternal punishment. [7]
Tantalus Tantalised Bernard Picart [4]
Tantalus drownning in water attempting to retrive fruit from the low hanging branches.
Eternal torment of Tantalus, Greek Mythology [8]
