A Sisyphean labour (task, toil) - Сизифов труд
The phrase a Sisyphean labour describes an endless
and fruitless task. It comes from the name of Sisyphus,
a character in Greek mythology. Sisyphus was a son
of Aeolus, god of the winds, and the founder and king
of Corinth. He surpassed all in cunning and avarice
and gave offence to both Jupiter and Pluto, the god of
the lower world, by trying to cheat Death.
When Death came to fetch him, Sisyphus put him
into fetters so that no one died till Ares came and freed
Death, and delivered Sisyphus into his custody. But
Sisyphus was not yet at the end of his resources. For
before he died he told his wife that when he was gone
she was not to offer the usual sacrifice to the dead.
So in the underworld he complained that his wife was
neglecting her duty, and persuaded Hades to allow him
to go back to the upper world and punish her. But when
he got back to Corinth he did no such thing and lived
until he died of old age.
As a consequence, he was condemned after having
returned to the underworld to roll a heavy stone up a
steep hill; but before it reached the top of the hill the
stone always rolled down, and Sisyphus had to begin
all over again.
The reason for the punishment is not told by Homer.
According to some, he had revealed the secrets of the gods to mortals; according to others, he was in the habit of attacking and murdering travellers.
The legend is told by many of the ancient poets, in
particular by Homer in his poems the Iliad and the
Odyssey, and by Ovid in the Heroines.
1. Выражение Сизифов труд происходит от имени мифического царя Сизифа. 2. Основатель и царь города Коринфа — Сизиф отличался необыкновенной хитростью и скупостью. 3. За оскорбление богов он был осужден Зевсом на вечные страдания в царстве мертвых — Аиде. 4. Сизиф должен был вкатывать на гору тяжелый камень, который тотчас же скатывался вниз.