Sisyphus was a cunning King who twice escaped the fate of Death the first time he managed to bound Thanatos (Greek personification of Death) with chains thus stops the life-death cycle in the mortal world however the deathless battles angered Ares (God of war) and he freed Thanatos soon after. The second time Sisyphus pre-planned his escape with his wife telling her to not give his body the proper rituals after his death so he can plead with Persephone (Wife of Hades) to release him for a proper burial. It worked and Sisyphus decided not to return to the Underworld until he died of old age. When Sisyphus finally died Zeus intervened and made an example out of him the King of Gods made sure that no one will ever be encouraged by the feat of Sisyphus by making his final fate long and tedious labor Sisyphus now rolls a huge boulder uphill for eternity as it always rolls back down once it reaches the top.