In Greek mythology, Tantalus, king of Lydia, was the son of Zeusin Greek mythology, king of the gods and husband of Hera (Roman god Jupiter). A favorite of the gods, he was often invited to dine at their feasts. But Tantalus angered the gods. Some stories say that he betrayed their secrets to mortals, while others claim that he stole the food of the gods. Another myth gives a more gruesome explanation, saying that Tantalus killed his son Pelops and served the flesh to the gods to prove they could not tell the difference between human and animal meat.

To punish Tantalus, the gods placed him in a pool of water in the underworldland of the dead that was surrounded by fruit trees. When he went to drink, the water would recede. When he tried to eat the fruit, it moved out of reach. Tantalus's punishment gave...