Tantalus facts for kids

Tantalus was a king in Greek mythology. He was a human, not a god. Tantalus did many wrong things against the gods and goddesses. He even tried to trick them at a big dinner party. Because of his bad actions, the gods gave him a terrible punishment. This punishment affected him both in his life and after he died.

Tantalus's Terrible Crime

Tantalus was a powerful king. He invited the gods and goddesses to a special dinner. But he had a very dark plan. He wanted to test if the gods truly knew everything. So, he tried to serve them something awful to eat. The gods quickly realized his trick. They were very angry about what he had done.

Because of this, Tantalus was punished while he was still alive. His kingdom was completely destroyed. But his worst punishment came after he died.

His Punishment in the Underworld

When Tantalus died, he went to Tartarus, a deep part of the Greek underworld. His punishment there was very famous and lasted forever.

He had to stand in a pool of water. The water came up to his chin. He was always very hungry and thirsty. But he could never eat or drink. Each time he bent down to drink the water, it would disappear. The water would sink away from him.

Above his head were branches of trees. These branches were full of delicious fruit. But whenever he reached for a fruit, the wind would blow the branches away. He could never grab any food. He was always close to food and drink, but could never have them. This is where the word "tantalize" comes from. To "tantalize" someone means to make them want something they cannot have.

What Happened to His Family?

Tantalus had a daughter named Niobe. He also had a son named Pelops. The gods brought Pelops back to life after Tantalus's terrible act. Pelops later traveled to Ancient Greece. He became the ruler of a large area of land. This land is a peninsula and is still named after him today. It is called the Peloponnese.

Images for kids

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  Print of the fall of Tantalus. Preserved in the Ghent University Library.

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  Oil painting by Gioacchino Assereto (around 1640s)

See also

In Spanish: Tántalo (padre de Pélope) para niños