A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them.

In Greek mythology he was the son of Zeus and a nymph who was highly honored until he offended the gods. He was placed in the river of Hades in water up to his chin and a fruit tree placed just out of his reach. He suffered from thirst, hunger and unfulfilled anticipation as a result. Thus 'to tantalize' means to bring hope and then disappoint.

(Greek mythology) a wicked king and son of Zeus; condemned in Hades to stand in water that receded when he tried to drink and beneath fruit that receded when he reached for it

Tantalus is an extinct cinder cone in the southern Koolau Range on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It also has a summit crater, Tantalus Crater. The cinder cone formed after the demise of Koolau Volcano, during a time of rejuvenated stage volcanism in southeastern Oahu that also formed Punchbowl Crater, Diamond Head and Koko Head.

Tantalus is an anti-spam Sendmail milter that keeps bulk emailers from guessing usernames by rejecting servers that guess a configurable number of invalid users within a configurable amount of time.

A lockable liquor rack, usually holding three cut-glass decanters, that allowed the liquor to be seen but not drunk. A Victorian invention designed to ensure that the master of the house controlled its alcohol.

A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises.