Hades and Persephone

Hades God of the underworld Child of Cronus and Rhea Wife: Persephone

Hades’ Helpers Hermes- Guided the soul of the dead to

the river Styx Charon- Ferryman of the river Styx

› Would only ferry people across who had money

Cerberus- Three headed dog and guardian of the underworld › Allowed the dead to enter but not leave

Famous Tortured Souls Sisyphus of Corinth- The very clever

king Asopus, a river god, lost his daughter

› Sisyphus bargained with Asopus, a spring for info

› Sisyphus told him that Zeus had stolen her› Asopus confronts Zeus› Zeus turns his daughter into an island,

himself into a rock

Zeus’ Anger Zeus asks Hades to take Sisyphus to

the underworld Sisyphus deceived him and bound him

with a chain› No one could die › Gods threatened punishment so he

released Hades› Sisyphus was first to die

Sisyphus the Beggar Sisyphus instructed his wife to not put

a coin under his tongue The gods were angry at this and sent

Sisyphus back to punish his wife His trick worked and he lived for many

years with his wife till his death

Sisyphus’ Labor Zeus was angry because he had been

out smarted He condemned Sisyphus to roll a rock

up a hill. The rock would roll down once he reached the top and he would have to push it up again.

What is a Sisyphean labor?