(Percy meets Tantalus for the first time…)
Tantalus: Tantalus. King Tantalus of Anatolia.
Percy: Tantalus… You’re the guy who can’t touch food no matter how hungry he gets.
Tantalus: Yes, thank you for recalling my curse I had momentarily forgotten.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from a TV series ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. The scene where this moment comes from is in Season 2 Episode 1, with the title of ‘I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals’ (2×01). Percy Jackson is based on a book series of the same name written by Rick Riordan. The series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is produced by Disney Branded Television and 20th Television (Disney+)
- TV Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
- Season: 2
- Episode: 1
- Episode Name: I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals
- Production: Disney Branded Television, 20th Television (Disney+)
Why we collected this quote
We chose this because it introduces Tantalus with dry, sarcastic humor. It immediately establishes his miserable, petty personality.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
Percy, upon meeting the new camp director Tantalus, helpfully (and annoyingly) reminds him of his eternal punishment: he can never eat or drink. Tantalus’s sarcastic reply shows just how bitter he is about his situation.
Book vs TV Series
The show nails the bitter and sarcastic dynamic between Percy and Tantalus right away. In the book, Tantalus is just annoyed when Percy recognizes his curse, calling him a “scholar.” The show’s dialogue is much more concise and dry-witted, perfectly capturing the intense annoyance and dark humor of a cursed immortal being confronted with his own suffering.
Fun facts & Trivia
The character Tantalus is the source of the English verb “to tantalize,” which means to torment or tease with the sight or promise of something unobtainable. His mythological curse involves food and water constantly receding just out of his reach.
