Antaeus

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An·tae·us

(ăn-tē′əs)

n. Greek Mythology

A giant wrestler who could not be defeated as long as he remained in contact with the earth. Hercules defeated him by lifting him off the ground.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Antaeus

(ænˈtiːəs)

(Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth an African giant who was invincible as long as he touched the ground, but was lifted into the air by Hercules and crushed to death

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

An•tae•us

(ænˈti əs)

n.

a giant wrestler of Greek myth who was invincible when in contact with the earth, but was lifted into the air and crushed by Hercules.

An•tae′an, adj.

Mentioned in ?

Antaean

References in classic literature ?

A great while ago, when the world was full of wonders, there lived an earth-born Giant, named Antaeus, and a million or more of curious little earth-born people, who were called Pygmies.

But at noonday in a clear atmosphere, when the sun shone brightly over him, the Giant Antaeus presented a very grand spectacle.

The Pygmies loved to talk with Antaeus; and fifty times a day, one or another of them would turn up his head, and shout through the hollow of his fists, "Halloo, brother Antaeus!

It was a happy circumstance that Antaeus was the Pygmy people's friend; for there was more strength in his little finger than in ten million of such bodies as this.

In short, as I said before, Antaeus loved the Pygmies, and the Pygmies loved Antaeus.

It is a very pleasant picture to imagine Antaeus standing among the Pygmies, like the spire of the tallest cathedral that ever was built, while they ran about like pismires at his feet; and to think that, in spite of their difference in size, there were affection and sympathy between them and him!

On all their holidays, the Pygmies had excellent sport with Antaeus. He often stretched himself out at full length on the ground, where he looked like the long ridge of a hill; and it was a good hour's walk, no doubt, for a short-legged Pygmy to journey from head to foot of the Giant.

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He thought more of Bernardo del Carpio because at Roncesvalles he slew Roland in spite of enchantments, availing himself of the artifice of Hercules when he strangled Antaeus the son of Terra in his arms.

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D'Artagnan, like Antaeus, had only touched the ground, and he turned towards Porthos, almost angry.

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A strange sight it was to see these unfortunate men endeavoring to escape by those huge aerial strides, and seeming, like the giant Antaeus, to receive fresh strength every time they touched the earth.

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They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus. But why should I raise them?

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Antaeus was suffocated by the gripe of Hercules, but every time he touched his mother earth his strength was renewed.