View source for Antaeus

{{short description|Character in Greek and Berber mythology}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Antaios|the magazine|Antaios (magazine){{!}}''Antaios'' (magazine)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Antaeus
| abode = Libya
| parents = [[Poseidon]] and [[Gaea]]
| children = [[Alceis]] or [[Barce (mythology)|Barce]],{{-}}[[Iphinoe (mythology)|Iphinoe]]
| mount = 
| deity_of = Giant King of [[Ancient Libya|Libya]]
| member_of = the Libyan Royal Family
| consort = [[Tinjis]]
| other_names = Anti
| image = Herakles Antaios Louvre G103.jpg
| caption = [[Heracles]] and Antaeus, red-figured [[krater]] by [[Euphronios]], 515–510&nbsp;BC, [[Louvre]] (G 103)
}}

'''Antaeus''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|n|ˈ|t|iː|ə|s}}; {{langx|grc|Ἀνταῖος|Antaîos|opponent}}, derived from {{langx|grc|{{linktext|ἀντάω}}|antáō|I face, I oppose|label=none}}), known to the [[Berbers]] as '''Anti''', was a figure in [[Traditional Berber religion|Berber]] and [[Greek mythology]].<ref name="trail_odysseus">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-wKAwAAQBAJ&q=antaeus+berber&pg=PA151|title=A Travel Guide to Homer: On the Trail of Odysseus Through Turkey and the Mediterranean, by John Freely, page 151|isbn=9781780761978|access-date=2019-12-11|language=en|last1=Freely|first1=John|date=30 March 2014|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref> He was famed for his defeat by [[Heracles]] as part of the [[Labours of Hercules]].

== Family ==
In Greek sources, he was the son of [[Poseidon]] and [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]],<ref>[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+2.5.11&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Antaeus 2.5.11]</ref><ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#31 31] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#157 157]</ref><ref>[[Statius]], ''[[Thebaid (Latin poem)|Thebaid]]'' 6.893 ff.</ref> who lived in the interior desert of Libya.<ref>[[Lucan]], ''[[Pharsalia]]'' 4.588-655</ref> His wife was the goddess [[Tinjis|Tinge]], for whom it was claimed that the city of [[Tangier]] in [[Morocco]] was named (though it could be the other way around),<ref name="taouf">{{Cite book|title=في تاريخ المغرب|year=2019|author=Ahmed Toufiq|language=ar|url=https://archive.org/details/some_pages/109889101_1666374716855022_7762441311513899932_n.jpg|trans-title=On the History of Morocco}}</ref> and he had a daughter named [[Alceis]] or [[Barce (mythology)|Barce]].<ref>[[Scholia]]sts on [[Pindar]], ''Pythian Ode'' 9</ref> Another daughter, [[Iphinoe (mythology)|Iphinoe]], consorted with Heracles.<ref name=":1" />

==Mythology==
[[File:Hércules luchando con Anteo, por Zurbarán.jpg|thumb|Antaeus fighting [[Heracles]], in a 1634 painting by [[Francisco de Zurbarán]]]]
Antaeus would challenge all passers-by to [[Greek wrestling|wrestling matches]]<ref>[[Plato]], ''Laws'' 7.796a</ref> and remained invincible as long as he remained in contact with his mother, the earth.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 9.11.6</ref><ref>[[Quintus Smyrnaeus]], 6.285 ff.</ref><ref>Tzetzes, ''Chiliades'' 2.363 ff.</ref> As Greek wrestling, like its [[wrestling|modern equivalent]], typically attempted to force opponents to the ground, he always won, killing his opponents.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}<ref>[[Diodorus Siculus]], 4.17.4</ref><ref>[[Philostratus of Lemnos]], ''[[Imagines (work by Philostratus)|Eikones]]'' 2.21.3 & 2.22.1</ref> He built a [[Greek temple|temple]] to his father using their [[skull]]s.{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}}<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Isthmian Odes'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Pind.+I.+4&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Antaeus 1.4.52 ff.]</ref> Antaeus fought Heracles as he was on his way to the [[Garden of Hesperides]] as his [[Labours of Hercules|11th Labour]].<ref>[[Josephus|Flavius Josephus]], ''Antiquities of the Jews''</ref> Heracles realized that he could not beat Antaeus by throwing or pinning him. Instead, he held him aloft and then crushed him to death in a [[bear hug]].<ref name=":0">[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#31 31]</ref><ref>Apollodorus, 2.5</ref><ref>Diodorus Siculus, 4.18.1 & 4.27.3</ref>

The contest between Heracles and Antaeus was a favored subject in [[Greek sculpture|ancient]]{{sfnp|''EB''|1878}} and [[Renaissance sculpture]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5QzQ3W4VjvsC&q=The%20contest%20between%20Heracles%20and%20Antaeus%20Renaissance%20sculpture.&pg=PA550|title=Gardner's Art Through the Ages: V. 2: A Global History|last=Kleiner|first=Fred S.|date=2008-02-01|publisher=Cengage Learning EMEA|isbn=978-0495410607|pages=550|language=en}}</ref>

===Location in Africa===
Antaeus is placed in the interior desert of [[ancient Libya|Libya]].<ref>I. Malkin, ''Myth and Territory in the Spartan Mediterranean'', 1994:181-87, giving sources, noted in Robin Lane Fox, ''Travelling Heroes in the Epic Age of Homer'', 2008:182 and note 51.</ref> He was probably incorporated into Greek mythology after the Greek colonization of Cyrenaica in the mid-seventh century BC.<ref name="trail_odysseus"/>

[[File:Msoura.jpg|thumb|left|Msoura in 1830]]
A location for Antaeus somewhere far within the [[Berber world]] might be quite flexible in longitude: when the Roman commander [[Quintus Sertorius]] crossed from Hispania to North Africa, he was told by the residents of [[Tingis]] ([[Tangier]]), far to the west of Libya, that the gigantic remains of Antaeus would be found within a certain [[tumulus]]; digging it open, his men found giant bones; closing the site, Sertorius made propitiatory offerings and "helped to magnify the tomb's reputation".<ref>Fox 2008:182, noting [[Plutarch]], ''Sertorius'' 9.3–4.Fox 2008:182</ref> It is proposed that this monument is the [[Msoura]] stone circle, 50&nbsp;km from Tangier.<ref>[http://www.minculture.gov.ma/fr/Tertre%20de%20Mzora.htm Tertre de M'zora] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040624040440/http://www.minculture.gov.ma/fr/Tertre%20de%20Mzora.htm |date=2004-06-24 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In Book IV of [[Marcus Annaeus Lucanus]]' [[epic poem]] ''[[Pharsalia]]'' (c. AD 65-61), the story of [[Heracles]]' victory over Antaeus is told to the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[Gaius Scribonius Curio (praetor 49 BC)|Curio]] by an unnamed Libyan citizen. The learned client king [[Juba II]] (died 23 BC), husband of the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, claimed his descent from a liaison of Heracles with Tinga, the consort of Antaeus.<ref>[[Strabo]], 17.3.8 noted in D.W. Roller, ''The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene'', 2003:54 and 154, and by Fox 2008:182.</ref><ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Naturalis Historia]]'' 5.2–3</ref> In his ''Life of Sertorius'' cited above, [[Plutarch]] recounts what he says to be a local myth, according to which Heracles consorted with Tinge after the death of Antaeus and had by her a son, [[Sufax|Sophax]], who named the city of Tingis after his mother. Sophax in his turn was father of Diodorus, who conquered many Libyan peoples with his army of [[Olbia]]ns and [[Mycenae]]ans brought to Libya by Heracles.<ref>[[Plutarch]], ''Life of Sertorius'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plut.+Sert.+9.4&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0062:boo=0:chapter=0&highlight=Antaeus 9.4]</ref> Moreover, some related that Heracles had a son, [[Palaemon (Greek mythology)|Palaemon]], by Iphinoe, the daughter of Antaeus and (presumably) Tinge.<ref name=":1">[[Tzetzes]] on [[Lycophron]], 663</ref>

[[Scholia]]sts on [[Pindar|Pindar's]] ''[[Pindar's First Pythian Ode|Pythian Ode]]'' 9 also recorded a story which made Antaeus king of the Libyan city of Irassa, and the father of a daughter named either Alceis or Barce. Antaeus promised her hand to a race winner just as [[Danaus]] had done to find husbands for [[Danaïdes|his daughters]]. [[Alexidamus]] emerged victorious and married the daughter. Three versions of this story with minor variations were collected by the scholiasts; one made Antaeus, king of Irassa, a figure distinct from the Antaeus killed by Heracles; another suggested that both were one and the same.<ref>[[Scholia]] on Pindar, ''[[Pindar's First Pythian Ode|Pythian Odes]]'' 9, 185, referring to [[Pherecydes of Athens|Pherecydes]], [[Pisander of Camirus]] and other unspecified writers</ref>

The ancient city of [[Barca (ancient city)|Barca]], possibly located at [[Marj, Libya]], was also called Antapolis after Antaeus.<ref name="Gordon">{{cite book |page=182 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LnxTDwAAQBAJ&q=antaeus+ant%C3%A1bulus&pg=PA182|title=The Works of Ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Yaʿqūbī (Volume 1): An English Translation
|editor1=Matthew S. Gordon
|editor2= Chase F. Robinson
|editor3=Everett K. Rowson
|editor4= Michael Fishbein
|isbn= 9789004364141
|publisher=Brill
|date = 2017
}}</ref> ''Antaeopolis'' is also the Graeco-Roman name of [[Tjebu]], an Egyptian city. They identified the tutelary god of Tjebu, [[Nemty]], a fusion of [[Seth]] and [[Horus]], with Antaeus, although he may be different from the Libyan Antaeus.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

==See also==
* [[Anteosaurus]], a giant [[Dinocephalia|dinocephalian]] [[therapsid]] named after Antaeus

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''The Library of History'' translated by [[Charles Henry Oldfather]]. Twelve volumes. [[Loeb Classical Library]]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59&ndash;8. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/home.html Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site]
*Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2''. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0540 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Gaius Julius Hyginus]], ''Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus'' translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. [https://topostext.org/work/206 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*[[John Tzetzes]], ''Book of Histories,'' Book II-IV translated by Gary Berkowitz from the original Greek of T. Kiessling's edition of 1826.  [http://www.theoi.com/Text/TzetzesChiliades1.html Online version at theoi.com]
*[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece'' with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. {{ISBN|0-674-99328-4}}. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0160 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library]
*Pausanias, ''Graeciae Descriptio.'' ''3 vols''. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903.  [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0159 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Philostratus of Lemnos|Philostratus the Elder]]. ''Imagines,'' translated by Arthur Fairbanks (1864-1944). Loeb Classical Library Volume 256. London: William Heinemann, 1931. [https://topostext.org/work/225 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Philostratus the Lemnian (Philostratus Major), ''Flavii Philostrati Opera. Vol 2''. Carl Ludwig Kayser. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Lipsiae. 1871. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0601 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Pliny the Elder]], ''The Natural History.'' John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Pliny the Elder, ''Naturalis Historia.'' Karl Friedrich Theodor Mayhoff. Lipsiae. Teubner. 1906. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0138 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*[[Statius|Publius Papinius Statius]]'', The Thebaid'' translated by John Henry Mozley. Loeb Classical Library Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. [https://topostext.org/work/149 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
*Publius Papinius Statius, ''The Thebaid. Vol I-II''. John Henry Mozley. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1928. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0498 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*[[Quintus Smyrnaeus]], ''The Fall of Troy'' translated by Way. A. S. Loeb Classical Library Volume 19. London: William Heinemann, 1913. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/QuintusSmyrnaeus1.html Online version at theoi.com]
*Quintus Smyrnaeus, ''The Fall of Troy''. Arthur S. Way. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1913. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0490 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
*[[Strabo]], ''The Geography of Strabo.'' Edition by H.L. Jones. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
*Strabo, ''Geographica'' edited by A. Meineke. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0197 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.]

==Further reading==
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Antaeus |volume=2  |page=88 |short=x}}
* {{cite NSRW|wstitle=Antæus|short=x}}
* {{cite Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology|title=Antaeus |volume=1 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dantaeus-bio-1 |short=x}}
*{{cite EB9 |wstitle=Antæus |volume=2  |ref={{harvid|EB|1878}} |page=100 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Antaeus}}
* [http://www.theoi.com/Gigante/GiganteAntaios.html "ANTAIOS"], ''The Theoi Project''

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greek giants]]
[[Category:Children of Poseidon]]
[[Category:Children of Gaia]]
[[Category:Fictional half-giants]]
[[Category:Libyan characters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythology of Heracles]]
[[Category:Berber mythology]]
[[Category:Kings in Berber mythology]]