Gods, Myths and Heroes - Part 13

Sisyphus

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a ruthless, deceitful king of Ephyra (modern Corinth).  He boasted that he was more clever than the god Zeus, and on two occasions he escaped death by lying to and tricking the guardians of the underworld, thus cheating death.

(Greek vase depicting Sisyphus carrying his stone, c. 530 BC)

The god Hades, ruler of the underworld, didn't like being cheated.  When Sisyphus finally died, he was condemned by Hades to roll a huge boulder up a steep hill, and then the boulder would roll down again, and Sisyphus had to repeat the task endlessly.

(Book Illustration by Abraham van Diepenbeeck, 1655)

Artists liked this theme both because we can relate to it – a task that seems difficult, endless and futile is called Sisyphean – and because it was an opportunity to depict a naked muscular man.

(Sisyphus Eternally Rolling the Rock, by Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol, 1785-1861)

Above is a painting of Sisyphus by Franz von Stuck, 1920 (right) with a photo of von Stuck's model posing on the left.

An Art Deco bronze plaque of Sisyphus by Belgian sculptor Joseph Witterwulghe, 1920s.

Here's a clip from the Laurel and Hardy movie The Music Box, 1932, in which they have to lug a piano up a huge flight of stairs.  You can guess what happens, and in the full movie, it happens more than once.  You can see the full movie (29 minutes long) on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8I6SG_DAU

This photo of a muscular naked guy as Sisyphus has been widely reproduced.  Of course, the rock is actually on a flat surface and the photo has been tilted to make it a hill.

This self-portrait by Boatin' Rob is called Sisyphus Redux, but this photo hasn't been tilted, as you can see by the trees in he background.  Those of you who like bears should click on the photo to enlarge it.

Another version of Sisyphus.  A farmer's work is never done.

We end with this recent take on Sisyphus.  Just when we think we're done with Covid-19, another variant comes along and we have to start all over again.  Thousands of years after the story of Sisyphus was told, it's still relevant.