If You Enjoy Making Models,

this depiction of hell on earth might appeal to you,

all images © Ross McSweeney, you may know the Greek myth of Sisyphus or Sisyphos, who was the founder and king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth), Hades punished him for cheating death not once but twice by forcing him to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity,

I remember a episode of the Simpsons where this myth was parodied,

back to the model, artist Ross McSweeney designed an intricately detailed, laser-cut wood automata that animates the classic tale, beneath the surface, a cross-section of classical columns reveals a devil like figure who cranks an elaborate set of gears, 

the device is operated by turning a dial on the lower right side, 

and McSweeney demonstrates the mechanism in a video in which he also showcases different operating speeds, 

and I have to admit I love the vulture, just waiting for it all to go wrong!

 

Ross has designed additional do-it-yourself kinetic constructions of a tiger, a running horse, and the surface of water that undulates with droplet ring, you can find detailed patterns to construct your own sculpture, at his Etsy shop, what a great way to while away the long winter evening making this delightful model, hell on earth, says it all.