Greek mythology
Tantalus
The king who feeds the gods his son and starves forever
- Mythology
- Greek mythology
- Parents
- Zeus
- Group
- Mortal · Ruler · King
- Appears in
- House of Atreus
- Places
- The Underworld · Tartarus
Listen to “House of Atreus” in the app
Tantalus is a favored son of Zeus who dines with the gods, then betrays them, stealing their nectar and serving up his own son Pelops in a stew to test their sight. For this outrage he is condemned to eternal hunger and thirst in the Underworld, standing in water that drains when he bends to drink, beneath fruit that the wind sweeps from his grasp.
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Real episode from the app
House of Atreus
Chapter 1
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tantalus?
- Tantalus is a favored son of Zeus who dines with the gods, then betrays them, stealing their nectar and serving up his own son Pelops in a stew to test their sight.
- Which mythology does Tantalus belong to?
- Tantalus belongs to Greek mythology.
- Which stories does Tantalus appear in?
- Tantalus appears in House of Atreus, told as chaptered audio dramas in MythologyNow.
Cite this page
APA
MythologyNow. (2026). Tantalus. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/tantalusMLA
"Tantalus." MythologyNow, 2026, https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/tantalus.Chicago
MythologyNow. "Tantalus." Accessed 2026. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/tantalus.Listen to the stories of Tantalus
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