Tantalus, son of Zeus, was the King of Sipylus in Lydia. The Gods showed him unusual favor – inviting him to banquets on Mount Olympus and telling him secrets that no other mortal knew.

But Tantalus was not content to leave well enough alone. He stole nectar and ambrosia from the Gods and told their Olympian secrets to other mortals.

Worst of all, he played a dreadful trick. Wishing to test the wisdom of the Gods, Tantalus invited them to a feast and served them a piping hot stew. What he didn’t tell them, the main ingredient was that of his own Son, Pelops. The Gods immediately saw through this ruse and refused to eat – All except Demeter who ate part of the unfortunate boy’s shoulder.

The Gods were horrified and furious. Zeus at once restored his grandson Pelops to life, replacing the part of his shoulder with ivory, and condemning Tantalus to everlasting torture in the worst part of Hades, Tartarus. Here he suffered his unique and everlasting torture – punished by being ‘tantalized’ with hunger and thirst.

He was set to stand in a pool of waist-high water, surrounded by trees drooping over him full of ripe, luscious fruit. Whenever he bent down to drink the cool water, the pool would dry up. And, whenever he reached to pick a fruit, the trees would sway from his grasping hand.

Forever the myth’s say, the thirsty and hungry Tantalus remains in this pool, endlessly taunted by the sparkling water and delicious fruits –out of reach for eternity.