Sisyphus
Publié le 22/02/2012
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Greek Son of Aeolus; brother of
Athamas; husband of Merope. Although Sisyphus
is described as a cunning rogue in Homer's Odyssey,
he is most famous for a terrible punishment visited
on him by Zeus. He was condemned to push an
enormous boulder to the top of a hill. Once at the
top, the boulder would come crashing down, and
Sisyphus had to begin his task all over again. Thus, Sisyphus has become the symbol for a fruitless task.
It is not known for what crime Sisyphus was being
punished in this manner.
Another story about Sisyphus tells how he outwitted
Thanatos (Death). Zeus had sent Thanatos to seize
Sisyphus. Sisyphus asked Thanatos to demonstrate
how the manacles that he carried worked. During the
demonstration, Sisyphus managed to lock up Thanatos.
Zeus had to send Ares from Olympus to release
Death upon the Earth again, for no one was dying.
Meanwhile Sisyphus asked his wife, Merope, to
leave his body unburied when he died—for he knew
that Thanatos would come for him a second time.
When Sisyphus died, he went straight to Hades, god of
the Underworld (1), and complained that his corpse
had not received a proper burial. Hades, a just god,
sent Sisyphus back to Earth to arrange a decent burial.
Sisyphus had a joyous reunion with his wife, broke his
word to Hades to return, and lived to an old age.
Liens utiles
- Merope Greek Daughter of Atlas and Pleione; wife of Sisyphus; one of the "Seven Sisters" called the Pleiades.
- Sisyphus Greek Son of Aeolus; brother of Athamas; husband of Merope.