\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \b \cf15 \ATXht12002 Tantalus\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , the wealthy ruler of a small kingdom in Asia Minor, not far from Smyrna, was the favor
ite of the gods and often invited to their banquets. When it was his turn to hold a feast, he wanted to serve the celestials something completely out of the ordinary, and decided that his son\cf15 \b \ATXht11612 Pelops\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 \cf7 would serve
the purpose. His decision was influenced by his desire to put the omniscience of the gods to the test by serving them this dish.\par
In fact all the Olympians recognized the flesh they were served and refused to eat it, with the exception of Demeter who
, distracted and disturbed by thoughts of the loss of her daughter\cf0 \b \cf15 \ATXht1009 Persephone\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , devoured a shoulder before she realized what it was.\par
For this outrageous act Tantalus was cast into\cf0 \b \cf15 \ATXht10800 Ha
des\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , condemned to eternal hunger and thirst: immersed up to his neck in water and with a branch laden with fruit hanging just above his head, the water receded when he moved his mouth toward it and the branches rose when he stretched out
his hand to pick the fruit. It is from his name that the English word ôtantalizeö is derived. PelopsÆs body was put back together and restored to life by the gods; as a replacement for the shoulder that had been eaten, he was given one made of ivory.
