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The Greek myths have so many remarkable and memorable characters, such as Hercules and Perseus. One of the most interesting of all is Sisyphus. He was a king, who was the embodiment of craftiness and guile. Sisyphus even attempted to outfox the Gods and even death. Not only are the tales about this monarch entertaining, they are importantessential, in that they help us to learn about the Ancient Greek worldview. The Sisyphus myth has influenced modern culture , and it has come to encapsulate some of the contradictions of the human condition and epitomizes its futility.

[[File: Sisyphus One====The background to the myth====Like so many Greek mythical heroes, the origin of the tale probably belongs to the non-Greeks or Pelagasians who inhabited the area. It is also possible that the stories came from the Balkans or even Asia Minor. The etymology of the name means ''the son of Aeolus.jpg |200px|thumb|left|Sysphus pushing a rock on a Greek vase]]''

==The background to father of Sisyphus was the myth==legendary King Aeolus, who was the founder of the Aeolian people and the mythical ruler of Magnesia in Thessaly and the son of the ancestor of all Greeks, Hellen, who was the grandson of Prometheus, the Titan. He had seven brothers, and he married the Pleaid, Merope.

Like so many Greek mythical heroes, the origin of the tale probably belongs to the non-Greeks or Pelagasians who inhabited the area. It is also possible that the tales came from the Balkans or even Asia Minor. The etymology of the name means ‘the son of Aeolous’ The father of Sisyphus was the legendary King Aeolous, who was the founder of the Aeolian people and the mythical ruler of Magnesia in Thessaly and the son of the ancestor of all Greeks, Hellen, who was the grandson of Prometheus, the Titan. He had seven brothers and he married the Pleaid, Merope. His sons were Glaucus, Ornytion, Thersander, and Almus. Sisyphus was as clever intelligent as his grandfather Prometheus, but he was also cunning and dishonest. In many myths, he is portrayed as emigrating emigrated with his brothers from Aeolus , and each of them sought to find create their kingdomown kingdoms. It is possible that the figure of Sisyphus was based on a real historical figure. However, the real person upon whom the Sisyphean legends are based has been lost in the mists of time.

The story of Sisyphus is one that has fascinated people for millennia. This is evident in the many artworks on the legendary figure and he even appears in the Odyssey of Homer <ref>Homer, The Odyssey, vi</ref>. There are many interpretations of the story of Sisyphus. Some believe that the legends are a warning to all kings who were tyrants and who did not obey the divine laws. As we have seen from the tales about him, he is something of a ‘cultural hero’ ''cultural hero'' in Greek mythology. He is someone who can benefit humans with his knowledge. In the case of Sisyphus,’ '' he helped humans by showing them the benefits of trade and navigation at sea. However, his story is a cautionary one, while the intellect and reason many benefit humanity, it can also lead to their downfall. Sisyphus is too clever by half and this means that he is always disobeying the gods. The man who founded Corinth was so clever that he believed that he could cheat and deceive the gods, but even he the most cunning of men eventually was punished by Zeus. The moral of this myth is that humans, no matter how clever they are, must abide by the laws of the Olympians, Then in the story of how Sisyphus cheated death, there was a lesson for the Greeks and other ancient peoples. Death was allotted to humanity and it is their destiny. There is no point trying to deny death or else people could face something even worse, like the terrible punishment of the former king of Corinth. Another interpretation of the myth is that it illustrates the sheer futility of existence <ref>Raffalovich, Daniel C. "The deaths of Sisyphus: structural analysis of a classical myth." Anthropologica (1988): 87-93</ref>. The story of the ex-king who must push a rock up to the crest of a cliff, only for it to fall again, for no purpose illustrated the futility of life. Humans struggle and work hard and yet achieve nothing, their existence is boring, hard, and serves no purpose. Many thinkers and philosophers have been drawn to the myth because of this. The modern French Existentialist philosopher Albert Camus wrote a celebrated essay entitled ‘The ''The Myth of Sisyphus’Sisyphus''. He argued that while the former monarch was doomed to spend his life on a futile task, yet he could still find meaning in life. Camus wrote that Sisyphus could reflect on life during his task and in this way, he comes to accept the futility of his task. In this way, he becomes reconciled to his life and even gave it some meaning. The French philosopher drew parallels between the Greek’s Greek's's fate and that of modern men and women. He argued that like Sisyphus that they too could find meaning and satisfaction, even in the most absurd conditions and adverse circumstances<ref>Camus, Albert. The myth of Sisyphus. Penguin UK, 2013 </ref>.