1 TANTALUS The story of Tantalus and the Roman beliefs about life after death Copyright 2004 © Sam Haydon

2 Roman beliefs about life after death The Romans had many doubts about what happened to people’s souls after they had passed away. They believed that the people’s souls became ghosts and stayed on earth to either haunt or to help their relatives. But they also believed that if they committed a sin they would go to hell and suffer eternal punishment. They also believed that if they never did anything wrong they would live peacefully in heaven.

3 Tantalus in the beginning There were many people who were unfortunately sent to the underworld and perpetually punished. One of these many pour souls was Tantalus but even though he was sentenced to such horrible torture he got all he deserved. His parents were a mortal and the king of the gods Zeus. This mortal was called Pluto.

4 Growing up As Tantalus aged into his teens he matured into a better man or that’s what he was supposed to do. He started off ok, he married a woman called Euryanassa and went on to father three children called Niobe, Pelops and Broteas.

5 Early days Tantalus did make some friends but they turned into enemies. Tantalus made some friends along with some good connections mainly Zeus king of the gods. You would think that Tantalus wouldn’t be so silly enough to cross his ‘good’ friend Zeus. Zeus had taken to liking Tantalus so much that he invited him to dine with the gods but he ruined that. At the end of the meal he stole the great food of the gods, the lovely wine, the nectar and the ambrosia only to share with his mortal friends on earth.

6 Going to far Not only had Tantalus stolen the divine food and drink of the gods but then he invited them to dine with him in his palace on Mount Sipylus. But before the gods had discovered his first crime he realized that his stock of food wasn’t sufficient for the gods. So he committed another crime but this time more vile and serious than before.Seeing as his food wasn’t good enough for the gods he asked his son Pelops to come and talk to him but he didn’t exactly talk to him he slaughtered him and sliced him up fed him to the gods with a stew. But the gods refused to eat it and recoiled in disgust.

7 Tantalus’s tantalizing Tantalus got what he deserved for his crimes when he himself was sentenced to eternal punishment in the underworld.But before he went to the underworld his kingdom was destroyed by the gods and then when he was standing at the scene of the destruction he was struck dead by Zeus. His punishment was unusual yet distraught. He was set in water up to his chin. He also had a giant rock looming over his head and an apple just hanging over his head but whenever he tried to grab an apple the wind blew it away from him and whenever he tried to drink the water it drained away into the ground and if he tried to swim away he would be crushed by the giant rock.

8 The unknown crime Even though Tantalus was in a lot of trouble already it added to his trauma when Zeus was informed that Tantalus was a suspect toward the stealing of the golden dog which was made by Hephaestus the craftsman of the gods. Hermes the messenger of the gods was sent to interrogate Tantalus about this. Hermes eventually got the truth out of Tantalus and Zeus found him guilty and immediately punished him by landing the giant rock down on him nearly crushing his skull with the force.

9 The end Tantalus was forever hungry, thirsty and every day had to contend with a dose of paranoia.