Tantalus

Tantalus  (Ancient Greek: Τάνταλος, Tántalos) is a spirit in the Fields of Punishment. (Tartarus in some versions)

History
Tantalus was the king of Tantalis, an ancient western Anatolian city, which was named after him. Zeus offered him a spot at the Olympian's table. But when he went to them, he stole nectar and ambrosia, brought it back to his people, and revealed the secret of the gods. For doing so, he offered up his son Pelops as food for the gods. Only Demeter touched the food, because she was distraught about her daughter, Persephone. She didn't know what it was and ate part of Pelops' shoulder. Zeus took the parts of the boy, put them together and was able to bring him to life once more. He was given a bronze shoulder by Hephaestus.

However, because of the theft when Tantalus died, his punishment was to stand in the middle of a lake under the branches of a fruit tree. But whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches would retreat from his grasp. Whenever he leaned down for a drink, the water would recede from him.

The Sea of Monsters
Tantalus replaced Chiron as Camp Half-Blood's activities director for a time during The Sea of Monsters when Chiron was suspected of having poisoned Thalia's tree. He didn't like the campers and appeared to take particular pleasure in torturing Percy and his half brother Tyson. He seemed to have a soft spot for Clarisse and was the one who decided to send her on the quest. He also started up chariot racing again with the warning that if anyone killed another person, they would have no dessert for a week.

While he was at the camp, Mr. D took particular pleasure in watching him try to eat or drink, always unsuccessfully. Just before he was sent back to the Underworld, he managed to pick up a burger, but before he could eat it, he was sent back to the Underworld.

Trivia

 * The word Tantalize (to tease or disappoint by promising or showing someone something desirable and then withholding it) comes from Tantalus, due to the nature of his punishment.
 * The element Tantalum is named after Tantalus.
 * The mineral Tantalite is named after Tanatalus.