I'm looking for a myth involving a punishment that is frivolous or tedious- like the guy who had to keep pushing the rock up the hill? Any ideas?
2007-01-24 08:29:53 · 13 answers · asked by DrThorne 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Are you looking for an example from existing literature, or are you trying to make up a new one? The myth you mention is the story of Sisyphus; the closest parallel in Greek mythology is Tantalus. (I'll let you look it up.)
I can imagine a modern parallel would be some guy who has to spend all his spare time filling out tax forms and by the time he's finished it's next year and he has to start over again.
2007-01-24 08:37:28 · answer #1 · answered by dukefenton 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tantalus- he commited cannibalism and murder, then he was punished. He was set under a fruit baring branch and placed in water. Whenever he wanted to eat fruit, the branch raised high; whenever he wanted to drink water, the water lowered. That's where we get the word tantalize. Another good one is Prometheus- he gave fire to humans and he was then punished by being chained and an eagle would eat his liver; the liver would regenerate.
2007-01-24 08:40:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe it was Sisyphus who had the repetitive job of heaving a boulder up hill after hill as punishment.
2007-01-24 10:08:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about the one where a mortal boasted she could out sew a tapestry a goddess? The goddess placed a challenge, on the mortal.
The mortal won, but the goddess was very angry, and turned her into a spider to forever spin webs.
Hope I help.
2007-01-24 11:23:18 · answer #4 · answered by dreamteen144244 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the story of Eros and Psyche, Eros's mother set Psyche out on "impossible" missions as punishment or revenge..
2007-01-24 08:37:46 · answer #5 · answered by tabby_24_2000_2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about the myth about Narcissus. He loved himself so much he was made into a flower so he could grow by the water and stare at himself.
2007-01-24 08:34:42 · answer #6 · answered by Konswayla 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As one u . s . a . overtakes yet another (Romans after the Greeks) no longer lots transformations for the conventional schlep. The god he paid homage to final week is now reported as some thing new. no matter what, all of them want from him. So the greater issues substitute, the greater they stay a similar.
2016-11-01 04:47:28 · answer #7 · answered by dembinski 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everybody wants to roll up hill,why pick on the Greeks?, Oedipus Rex=is the lonely boy that destroyed my relationship with his mother, that should help u understand that head games go way back
2007-01-24 08:41:25 · answer #8 · answered by bev 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cooltw20 is talking about Midas whose touch turned things to gold, including his food alas.
2007-01-24 09:15:16 · answer #9 · answered by Murray H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the story of Prometheus. he was contemned by Dias because he handed fire into humans. he was tide up in rocks every day an eagle was eating his guts and during the night those healed.
Hercules saved him in one of his expeditions after years of that torture.
2007-01-24 09:59:00 · answer #10 · answered by roulis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋