![]() "He proceeded through Libya, which was ruled by Poseidon's son Antaios (Antaeus), who forced strangers to wrestle and then killed them. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : strong men of words, have fallen in with me and belabored me mightily." Antaios pictures my complaint admirably only I am a more stubborn combatant than they for many a Herakles (Heracles). Sokrates (Socrates) : Your comparison with. Theaetetos (Theaetetus) : You seem to me to play rather the role of Antaios (Antaeus) for you do not let anyone go who approaches you until you have forced him to strip and wrestle with you in argument. "The devices introduced by Antaios (Antaeus) or Kerkyon (Cercyon) in the art of wrestling for the sake of empty glory." And at the line he set her, adorned in all her fair array to be the goal and final prize and declared to them all : ‘That man who first, leading the field, shall touch the maiden's robes, shall take her for his bride.’ Then down the course swiftest of all, Alexidamos, raced to his prize, the noble maid, and through the ranks of Nomad horsemen led her by hand." So too the Libyan king, to a groom thus chosen offered his daughter's hand. ![]() For he set all the gathered company there at the finish of the race-course, and proclaimed that all the heroes who were come to be his daughter's suitors, must decide by trial of their speed of foot, which maid for each should be his bride. But planning for his child a yet more glorious marriage, her father called to mind the story how Danaus long ago achieved in Argos for eight and forty daughters, before the noon of day, the speediest of marriage. Many a gallant chief of men of her own kin, and many a stranger sought her to be his bride, for indeed her beauty was wonderful to behold.Īnd much they longed to cull the ripened fruit of Youth's fair vision, golden-crowned. "The tale, how for a Libyan bride they rode to the city of Irasa, to seek the hand of Antaios' (Antaeus') glorious daughter, maid of the lovely hair. "To the house of Antaios (Antaeus) there came a hero from Thebes of Kadmos' (Cadmus') race, to Libya's corn-lands, small in his body's height but of soul indomitable, bringing a wrestler's grip to stay him who crowned with skulls of strangers Poseidon's holy shrine." Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.ĬLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES Heracles wrestling Antaeus, Athenian red-figure krater C6th B.C., Musée du Louvre He had a daughter Alceis or Barce, whom he promised to him who should conquer in the foot race. A king of Irasa, a town in the territory of Cyrene, who was sometimes identified by the ancients with the giant Antaeus. Sertorius is said to have opened the grave, but when he found the skeleton of sixty cubits in length, he was struck with horror and had it covered again immediately. § 35, &c.), and it was believed that whenever a portion of the earth covering it was taken away, it rained until the hole was filled up again. 397.) The tomb of Antaeus ( Antaei collis), which formed a moderate hill in the shape of a man stretched out at full length, was shewn near the town of Tingis in Mauretania down to a late period (Strab. Heracles discovered the source of his strength, lifted him up from the earth, and crushed him in the air. The strangers who came to his country were compelled to wrestle with him the conquered were slain, and out of their skulls he built a house to Poseidon. A son of Poseidon and Ge, a mighty giant and wrestler in Libya, whose strength was invincible so long as he remained in contact with his mother earth. GAIA (Philostratus Elder 2.21, Hyginus Fabulae 31) OFFSPRINGĪNTAEUS (Antaios). The Greek word antaios which lies behind his name means "set-against" or "hostile." He did so, and weakening the monster was able to crush his ribs and kill him. When Herakles encountered him in the ring, Athene advised the him to lift the giant up from the earth in the contest. ![]() He overwhelmed them all and used their skulls to roof the temple of his father Poseidon.Īntaios was a son of Gaia of the Earth, and it was from her that he drew his invincible strength. ![]() Set-Against, Hostile Heracles wrestling Antaeus, Athenian red figure vase painting C5th B.C., Cerite National Archaeological MuseumĪNTAIOS (Antaeus) was a Libyan giant who forced travellers passing through his land to compete with him in a wrestling match.
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