In ancient Greek mythology, what punishment did Tantalus suffer in the underworld?

In ancient Greek mythology, Tantalus suffered perpetual hunger and thirst in the underworld.

Tantalus was a king who had enjoyed extraordinary favor from the gods. Ancient stories give different accounts of his offense, including stealing divine food and drink or serving his son Pelops as food at a divine banquet. The myths consistently portray him as committing a grave violation against the gods.

His punishment became one of the best-known images of Greek afterlife torment. Tantalus stood in a pool beneath fruit trees. When he bent to drink, the water receded; when he reached for fruit, the branches moved beyond his grasp. The punishment made food and water visible but permanently unattainable.

The English word “tantalize” comes from this story and means to tease someone with something desirable that remains out of reach. Tantalus’s punishment differs from the boulder assigned to Sisyphus and the labor of holding up the sky associated with Atlas.