<P> In Greek mythology Sisyphus or Sisyphos ( / ˈsɪsɪfəs / ; Greek : Σίσυφος , Sísuphos ) was the king of Ephyra ( now known as Corinth ) . He was punished for his self - aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top , repeating this action for eternity . Through the classical influence on modern culture , tasks that are both laborious and futile are therefore described as Sisyphean ( / ˌsɪsɪˈfiːən / ) . </P>
<P> In Greek mythology Sisyphus or Sisyphos ( / ˈsɪsɪfəs / ; Greek : Σίσυφος , Sísuphos ) was the king of Ephyra ( now known as Corinth ) . He was punished for his self - aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top , repeating this action for eternity . Through the classical influence on modern culture , tasks that are both laborious and futile are therefore described as Sisyphean ( / ˌsɪsɪˈfiːən / ) . </P>
who kept pushing the rock up the hill
who kept pushing the rock up the hill
Sisyphus
Sisyphus