Sisyphus

Sis·y·phus

noun \ˈsi-sə-fəs\

Definition of SISYPHUS

: a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeatedly roll a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top

Origin of SISYPHUS

Latin, from Greek Sisyphos

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Mythology and Folklore Terms

elysian, fay, muse, nimbus, phoenix

Sisyphus

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In Greek mythology, the king of Corinth who was punished in Hades by having to roll a huge stone up a hill over and over again. He was the son of Aeolus and the father of Glaucus. When Death came to fetch him, Sisyphus had him chained up so that no one died until Ares came to free Death. Before being taken to the underworld, Sisyphus asked his wife to leave his body unburied. When he reached Hades he was permitted to go back to earth to punish his wife, and he lived to a ripe old age before dying a second time. His trickery resulted in his punishment in Hades.