What was the dread fate of Tantalus?

Answer 1

Tantalus, in Greek mythology, was punished by the gods for his hubris and transgressions, including serving his son Pelops as a feast to the gods. His eternal punishment in the Underworld involved standing in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree, forever tantalized by both. Whenever he reached for the fruit, it would recede from his grasp, and when he bent down to drink, the water would vanish, leaving him in perpetual thirst and hunger. This torment symbolizes the unattainable desires that plague humanity.