At last, God heeded Sisyphus's prayer—a plea he had been making for countless centuries. Each time, he hoisted the rock onto his shoulders, convinced that this would be the time it ascended with ease.

Sisyphus, the king of Ephyra, was renowned in Greek mythology for his ingenuity; indeed, so clever was he that he cheated death twice, angering the gods. They took their revenge by condemning Sisyphus ...

"Sisyphus" by Titian (1548-49) from the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid. Credit: Fine Art Images / Heritage Images / Getty Images Making puns about Sisyphus is an everlasting task, set to be ...