ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU–Z

Sack of Ilion to Seven Sages Seven Wonders of the World to Spartan Cipher Rod Sparti to Syrinx 2

SisyphusSisyphos

A son of Aiolos (Aeolus) and the ruler of the city of Korinth (Corinth) who was noted for his cleverness.

Sisyphus was the grandson of the founder of the Greeks, Hellen; his siblings were: Alkyone (Alcyone), Athamas, Kretheus (Cretheus) Perieres and Salmoneus; Sisyphus was the father of Glaukos (Glaucus) and the grandfather of Bellerophontes (Bellerophon).

There are several interesting stories regarding Sisyphus which have earned him the reputation of a rogue and a scoundrel:

  1. When another rogue, Autolykos (Autolycus), tried to steal and disguise Sisyphus’ cattle, the clever Sisyphus was able to identify his herd because he had marked his cattle on the under-side of their hoofs;
  2. When Thanatos (Death) came to claim the life of Sisyphus, the undaunted king captured Thanatos and kept him in chains until Ares (god of War) forced Sisyphus to release him; while Thanatos was in chains, all death stopped on the earth and chaos prevailed;
  3. When Zeus stole Aegina, the daughter of the river Asopos (Asopus), Sisyphus knew who had perpetrated the crime but would not tell Asopos until the mighty river supplied a spring on the top of the Akrokorinth (Acrocorinth); Zeus did not take kindly to having his infidelities exposed and, for this and other blunders, when Sisyphus was finally taken to the Underworld, he was punished by being compelled to roll a stone to the top of a slope where it always escaped him and would roll down the slope again; Sisyphus would begin the task again and thus continue forever.
  • Iliad, book 6, lines 153-4
  • Odyssey, book 11, line 593-600
  • Descriptions of Greece, book 2 iv 1
  • Catalogues of Women, fragments 3 and 7
  • How to Cite this Page

    Cut and paste the following text for use in a paper or electronic document report.

    Stewart, Michael. "People, Places & Things: Sisyphus", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Sisyphus_1.html

    Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report.

    Stewart, Michael. &quot;People, Places &amp; Things: Sisyphus&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Sisyphus_1.html

    Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report. This format will link back to this page, which may be useful but may not be required.

    Stewart, Michael. &quot;People, Places &amp; Things: Sisyphus&quot;, <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. <a href="http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Sisyphus_1.html">http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/ppt/Sisyphus_1.html</a>

    Sack of Ilion to Seven Sages Seven Wonders of the World to Spartan Cipher Rod Sparti to Syrinx 2

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU–Z


    Home • Essays • People, Places & Things • The Immortals
    Greek Myths Bookshop • Fun Fact Quiz • Search/Browse • Links • About