Sisyphus, the King of Ephyra. (Corinth). The kingdom flourished and was successful under his guidance.

He was known for being clever and using trickery. But he was also known for using his intelligence to do some very bad stuff to people he did not like.

He was said to be so clever in fact he earned the wrath of the Gods during his reign as the king. The most famous example being when he snitched on Zeus to Asopus.

Like all humans, Sisyphus was due for death at some point in his life. However, he was ordered to an early death after angering Zeus.

Though when Thanatos arrives to guide him into the afterlife, Sisyphus tricks him into locking himself away (Sisyphus was suppose to be chained to Tartarus)..

.. losing him his first life and preventing his death for the first time.

You could imagine that the Gods were not happy.

When he was due for death once again, Sisyphus tells his wife not to offer a proper burial for his body. When he arrives to meet Hades, he argues that he did not receive a proper burial, and should hence be allowed to return to life once again.

He never returned. Losing him his second life and leaving a large bounty on his head from the Gods.

You could imagine that the Gods were not happy.

Fortunately for him, his last life is lost due to natural causes. He is returned to the Underworld one final time. As punishment for tricking the Gods, he is instructed to push an increasingly heavy boulder up a hill.

One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy. (Scroll to Endure Punishment)