Tantalus
Family: Greek · Role: mythological king · First appears: Book 2 · Chapter 22
In Book 2, Chapter 22, Tantalus is said to have been the son of Zeus or Pluto and to have been buried at Sipylus. In Book 3, Chapter 22, Broteas is identified as his son.
In Book 5, Chapters 13 and 25, Tantalus is linked to Pelops: they are said to have brought colonies to Greece, and Pelops is called his son. In Book 8, Chapter 2, his daughter Niobe became a stone. In Book 9, Chapter 5, Amphion is said to have learned the harmony of the Lydians through his relationship to Tantalus.
In Book 10, Chapter 30, Pandareus is described as Tantalus’s associate in theft and perjury. In Chapter 31, Tantalus appears among the punishments mentioned by Homer, and Archilochus is cited in connection with the legend of the stone hanging over his head.
Relationship record
Life events
- Niobe became a stone.(Book 8 · Chapter 2)
- With: Niobe
- “and Niobe the daughter of Tantalus a stone.”
Book 2 · Chapter 22
- parent: Zeus “But the Tantalus who was said to be son of Zeus or Pluto was buried at Sipylus in a very handsome tomb which I have myself seen.”
- parent: Pluto “But the Tantalus who was said to be son of Zeus or Pluto was buried at Sipylus in a very handsome tomb which I have myself seen.”
Book 3 · Chapter 22
- child: Broteas (Tantalus is Broteas's father.) “the Magnesians say it was made by Broteas the son of Tantalus.”
Book 5 · Chapter 13
- with Pelops (interaction) “And there are still traces even to our day of Pelops and Tantalus having brought colonies to Greece”
Book 5 · Chapter 25
- child: Pelops “the divine Pelops the son of Tantalus”
Book 8 · Chapter 2
- child: Niobe “So one might well believe that Lycaon became a wolf, and Niobe the daughter of Tantalus a stone.”
Book 9 · Chapter 5
- with Amphion (The exact nature of their relationship is unspecified.) “Amphion was famous for music, and from his relationship to Tantalus learnt the harmony of the Lydians”
Book 10 · Chapter 30
- with Pandareus (They were associates in theft and perjury.) “Pandareus was you must know a Milesian from Cretan Miletus, and an associate of Tantalus both in his theft and perjury.”
Book 10 · Chapter 31
- with Homer (Homer is cited as the source for Tantalus's punishments.) “And under the winejar is Tantalus, undergoing all those punishments mentioned by Homer, and also terrified lest a stone overhanging his head should fall on him.”
- with Archilochus (Archilochus is associated with the addition to Tantalus's legend.) “It is plain that Polygnotus followed the account of Archilochus: but I do not know whether Archilochus invented the addition to the legend about the stone, or merely related what he had heard from others.”
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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.