V- Tragedy
Reading: Apollodore, The Library, 3.4.9
“And Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, founded Ephyra, which is now called Corinth, and married Merope, daughter of Atlas. They had a son Glaucus, who had by Eurymede a son Bellerophon, who slew the fire breathing Chimera. But Sisyphus is punished in Hades by rolling a stone with his hands and head in the effort to heave it over the top; but push it as he will, it rebounds backward. This punishment he endures for the sake of Aegina, daughter of Asopus; for when Zeus had secretly carried her off, Sisyphus is said to have betrayed the secret to Asopus, who was looking for her”.
2- Sisyphus
Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra (Corinth), son of king Aeolus of Thessaly and Enarete. He was a wise man but very hostile against his guests, a violation of the xenia (the rules of welcoming their guests). He also revealed Zeus secrets to Asopus to take advantage in return. For this reason, Zeus ordered Thanatos to take Sisyphus to the Underworld. In the Underworld, Sisyphus asked Thanatos to show him how chains work. When the god started the demonstration, Sisyphus locked him in the chains. For this reason, people did not die that time not even in wars nor could they make sacrifices. Ares, the god of war, was angry. He freed Thanatos and took back Sisyphus.
According to another version, Sisyphus ordered his wife not to bury him but to leave his body naked on the public square. This was a trick and once he arrived in the Underworld he tricked Persephone saying that he has to go back to earth and punish his wife. Persephone believed him and let him go.
For his trickery, the gods decided to punish him making him roll a huge boulder again and again over a hill. Each time the boulder reached the summit, a secret force pushed the boulder back to the bottom. This myth explains probably the law of the gravity.
The word Sisyphean is used in English to indicate a pointless and vain act repeated over and over.
Sisyphus depicted on containers (amphora, kylix, kraters, etc.)
Museum Collection: Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich; Shape: amphora
Painter: unknown; Date: ca 530 B.C.
Description: Persephone supervising Sisyphus pushing his rock in the Underworld.