Tantalus
Aug 16, 2026 · 55 min · 10 segments
Tantalus, mighty king and son of Zeus, prepares a feast for the gods—and becomes convinced it is a test of his own divinity. As reason gives way to pride, he crosses the final boundary between man and…
Aug 16, 2026 · 55 min · 10 segments
Tantalus, mighty king and son of Zeus, prepares a feast for the gods—and becomes convinced it is a test of his own divinity. As reason gives way to pride, he crosses the final boundary between man and…
From high Olympus comes the joyful word.
This day the children of crooked-minded Cronus come unto my palace for their nightly entertainments.
Their greater purpose is undisclosed, but certain tokens of intent can I discern.
Now they come to me to call me into this other space and take my place among the deathless race.
Ever have two natures wrestled in my breast, to rule and to be ruled, to be the singer and to be the song.
More than a man, yet I dwell with mortals.
A god's fire burns within this fleshly frame.
How long must I, that knows itself divine, consent to masquerade in flesh and time? There is an ancient prophecy abroad that Zeus shall be overthrown by a son of his own bloody seed.
From Caucasus upon his rugged crag, Prometheus has proclaimed the thing shall be.
Men have called me that son.
I too have felt some secret whisper saying, Thou art he.
and therefore comes this night to learn whether my appetite hungers for his crown.
But his thunderbolts I covet not, nor his throne.
I would not tear the sceptre from his hand.
But there are seats enough on high Olympus.
Why should not one be mine beside my sire? I have dark divinity within my blood.
and gold of mortal empire in my hand.
By birth, by conquest, and by what I've wrought, this higher throne should rightly now be mine.
I have obeyed limits long enough.
This night, the gods put me to this final test.
What honor has been done us, and deserve it, The deathless ones themselves have sought our hall and chosen us from all the mortal world to share their confidences.
How many kings command a thousand spears yet never entertain a single god? How many queens draped in purple all their lives yet never fill Hera's own brimming cup? but we have risen higher than them all.
Together we have earned Olympus' trust.
From high Olympus comes the joyful word.
This day the children of crooked-minded Cronus come unto my palace for their nightly entertainments.
Their greater purpose is undisclosed, but certain tokens of intent can I discern.
Now they come to me to call me into this other space and take my place among the deathless race.
Ever have two natures wrestled in my breast, to rule and to be ruled, to be the singer and to be the song.
More than a man, yet I dwell with mortals.
A god's fire burns within this fleshly frame.
How long must I, that knows itself divine, consent to masquerade in flesh and time? There is an ancient prophecy abroad that Zeus shall be overthrown by a son of his own bloody seed.
From Caucasus upon his rugged crag, Prometheus has proclaimed the thing shall be.
Men have called me that son.
I too have felt some secret whisper saying, Thou art he.
and therefore comes this night to learn whether my appetite hungers for his crown.
But his thunderbolts I covet not, nor his throne.
I would not tear the sceptre from his hand.
But there are seats enough on high Olympus.
Why should not one be mine beside my sire? I have dark divinity within my blood.
and gold of mortal empire in my hand.
By birth, by conquest, and by what I've wrought, this higher throne should rightly now be mine.
I have obeyed limits long enough.
This night, the gods put me to this final test.
What honor has been done us, and deserve it, The deathless ones themselves have sought our hall and chosen us from all the mortal world to share their confidences.
How many kings command a thousand spears yet never entertain a single god? How many queens draped in purple all their lives yet never fill Hera's own brimming cup? but we have risen higher than them all.
Together we have earned Olympus' trust.
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