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Published: 2008-07-06 23:19:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 2446; Favourites: 28; Downloads: 0
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"Antaios was a son of Gaia of the Earth, and it was from her that he drew his invincible strength."Antaeus in Greek and Berber mythology was a giant of Libya, the son of Poseidon and Gaia, and his wife was Tinjis. He was extremely strong as long as he remained in contact with the ground (his mother earth), but once lifted into the air he became as weak as water. He would challenge all passers-by to wrestling matches, kill them, and collect their skulls, so that he might one day build out of them a temple to his father Poseidon. Heracles, finding that he could not beat Antaeus by throwing him to the ground, as he would regain his strength and be fortified, discovered the secret of his power (touching the ground) and held Antaeus aloft and crushed him in a bearhug (Apollodorus ii. 5; Hyginus, Fab. 31). The myth of Antaeus has been used as a symbol of the spiritual strength which accrues when one rests one's faith on the immediate fact of things. The struggle between Antaeus and Heracles is a favorite subject in ancient sculpture.
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Comments: 12
AlexanderAeternus [2010-12-27 15:32:41 +0000 UTC]
Wow! Both the art and your writing is remarkably provocative. Congrats!
There is an ancient Mediterranean and Asia Minor tradition that continues today where men dance together (which is the norm there, but Americans witnessing it get all stupid) and during their gymnastic maneuvers, one of the dance moves involves touching the ground with one hand. Interesting
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Alois-Noette [2010-01-17 00:02:10 +0000 UTC]
I love the mythological connection (and what an interesting story; also, I didn't know that Gaia had a son, so that's good to know) and also you fit both of them together well in the same picture. Very nice!
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Hera-of-Stockholm [2008-07-07 19:02:44 +0000 UTC]
Good work and impressive background research!
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Rickbw1 In reply to Hera-of-Stockholm [2008-07-08 07:57:11 +0000 UTC]
Thanks Hera... research was easy. Just had to check if I remembered the legend right
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Hera-of-Stockholm In reply to Rickbw1 [2008-07-08 17:19:05 +0000 UTC]
but well done anyhow! I like it when people put down some energy in explaining their work as well
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Opalseadragon [2008-07-07 14:22:10 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful composition and colours....... a very interesting theme
Blessings
Opal
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