Tantalus was a lush valley kingdom ruled by King Memnos. After Memnos died, his don Daulin became king. Ares began a war between Daulin and his sister, Poena in order to get bodies to feed his dog Graegus. Luckily, Hercules was able to defeat Ares and restore peace to Tantalus.
Mythical background
Tantalus was a Greek mythological figure, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus. He was also called Atys.
He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink.
He was the father of Pelops, Niobe and Broteas, and was a son of Zeus[1] and the nymph Plouto. Thus, like other heroes in Greek mythology such as Theseus and the Dioskouroi, Tantalus had both a hidden, divine parent and a mortal one.
The Greeks used the proverb "Tantalean punishments" (Ancient Greek: Ταντάλειοι τιμωρίαι), in reference to those who have good things but are not permitted to enjoy them.[2]