[593] Σίσυφος. This name is explained by Curtius as a reduplication of “σοφός”, with the Aeolic substitution of “υ” of “ο”. The appropriateness of this appellation is suggested by Il.6. 152“ἔστι πόλις Ἐφύρη μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο”,
“ἔνθα δὲ Σίσυφος ἔσκεν, ὃ κέρδιστος γένετ᾽ ἀνδρῶν”,“Σίσυφος Αἰολίδης”. His story was dealt with by the Greek dramatists, Aeschylus having composed a “Σίσυφος πετροκυλιστής” and a satyric drama called “Σ. δραπέτης”. Another satyric play on the same subject was ascribed to Euripides. Sisyphus seems to have been accepted from the earliest times as the type of the cunning man; cp. Pind. Ol.13. 52“πυκνότατον παλάμαις”, Aristoph. Acharn.391“μηχανὰς τὰς Σισύφου”. The story of his guilt is told in different ways. According to Apollodorus, i. 9. 3, he betrayed one of the ‘dulcia furta Iovis;’ while Theognis (703) alludes to his escape from the prison-house of Hades, “ὅστε καὶ ἐξ Ἀίδεω πολυιδρείῃσιν ἀνῆλθεν”,
“πείσας Περσεφόνην αἱμυλίοισι λόγοις”.
