In Greek mythology, what punishment did Sisyphus receive in the Underworld?

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was condemned to roll a boulder uphill forever.

Sisyphus was king of Ephyra, often identified with Corinth, and was famous for his cunning. Ancient stories accuse him of deceiving Zeus, revealing divine secrets, and tricking Hades or Persephone so that he could return temporarily to the world of the living. His repeated attempts to outwit death eventually brought a permanent punishment.

In the Underworld, Sisyphus had to push a huge stone toward the top of a hill. Each time it was almost in place, it rolled back down, forcing him to begin again. The endless, futile labor became one of the most recognizable images in Greek mythology.

The phrase “Sisyphean task” now describes an apparently pointless effort that must be repeated. It is important not to confuse Sisyphus with Tantalus, who suffered from unreachable food and water, or Atlas, who was punished by bearing the sky in a different myth.