Sisyphus

He was said to be very clever and cunning. He married Merpa (one of the daughters of the Titan Atlante). They had three sons together, the most famous of whom was named Glaukos.

An example of Sisyphus' intelligence can be seen in one of his stories. Sisyphus observed that his herd of cattle was getting smaller and smaller, while the herd of his neighbor (Autolycus) was getting bigger. Autolykos was a well-known thief in the region (he had an advantage from his father Hermes - he could change the shape of the animals), but Sisyphus had to prove his theft. He decided to engrave the words "Stolen by Autolykos" on the cattle's hooves and then pour lead over them. The next day, all he had to do was follow the cattle's trail to Autolykos. In revenge, he stealthily seduced Autolycus' daughter, Anticleia, to whom Ulysses was then born.

His brother Salmón took the Thessalian throne from him, and Sisyphus took revenge by seducing his daughter Tyre, to whom two children were born. Once Tyre learned that Sisyphus did not love her, but was only seeking revenge, she killed both children. Sisyphus, however, claimed that the children were Salmón's, so it was both incest and murder. These accusations resulted in Salmón being expelled from Thessaly.

When the river god Asopos searched for his lost daughter Aigina (who had been kidnapped by Zeus), Sisyphus decided to make something of the situation. He told Asópos everything in exchange for being given an undrained well in the castle of Corinth. But Zeus wanted to punish Sisyphus. He ordered his brother Hades to take Sisyphus to Tartarus. But Sisyphus outwitted Hades and put him in his own bonds. He then imprisoned him for several days. No one could die in the world and confusion ensued, which was only brought to an end by Ares, who came to rescue Hades. Before Hades was freed, Sisyphus ordered his wife not to bury him. In the realm of the dead, he then sought out Persephone, whom he persuaded that he was not buried and so must not be kept in the underworld. He promised her that he would return to earth, where he would punish his wife for not burying him and return in three days. He did not keep his promise, so Hermes (messenger of the gods) was sent to fetch him. Sisyphus was punished upon his return to the underworld by having to push a huge stone up a hill and then roll it down the hill. But Sisyphus never succeeded in pushing it up because the stone always slipped (just before the top). Thus, he has to push the stone further and further, again and again. His great weariness and the futility of the action are too much even for his cunning. This activity has even become a saying known as "Sisyphus work".