Rare group carved in lead.
Italy , late 17th century
After a model by Stefano MADERNO (1576-1636)
H 60 cm L 31 cm P 26 cm
Hercule soulève Antée afin qu’il ne touche plus le sol.
The story
Antaeus, king of Libya, was the son of Poséidon et de Gaia la Mère-Terre, mais certains affirment que Gaia l’aurait conçu toute seule. Antée était un géant vivant dans une caverne située sous une falaise, qui se nourrissait de chair de lion et dormait à même le sol afin de conserver et d’accroître sa force colossale. Ses facultés à pouvoir prendre des forces lorsqu’il était en contact avec la Terre (Gaïa étant sa mère) le rendaient invincible. Sans pitié, celui-ci forçait les étrangers qui pénétraient sur son territoire à lutter contre lui jusqu’à épuisement, pour ensuite les tuer. Il exhibait ensuite leur dépouille sur le temple paternel.
We do not know if it is Héraclèsdecided to put an end to this barbarous practice, who defied Antée or if it is Antée who challenged Heraclès. The two pugilists prepared for battle : one and the other took off their lion skin, then while Heracles was oiling in the Olympic way, Antée poured hot sand on the limbs to increase his contact with the earth.
Heracles had decided to spare his strength and to tire Anteus, but after having thrown him on the ground all along, he was stupefied to see his muscles regenerated by the Mother Earth. The two ennemies started again to fight, and Antee voluntarily threw himself on the ground to become more powerful. Heracles, then understanding his maneuver, lifted him from the ground, broke his ribs, and, despite the terrible groans of Mother Earth, kept him in the air until he expired
Antée's massive body was buried by Heracles under the Charf hill near Tangier, a town which is said to have been founded by the son of Heracles, Tingis, and Antée’s wife named Tingé.
