Hercules en Antaeus 1529

This engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicts Hercules and Antaeus. Antaeus, the giant, is invincible as long as he remains in contact with his mother, the Earth. Hercules, aware of this, lifts him into the air, depriving him of his source of strength. The depiction of struggle against an invincible foe is a tale as old as time. We find variations in the myths of many cultures, all speaking to the human psyche. Think of the story of David and Goliath, where divine intervention allows David to defeat the giant. Here, the raised posture of Antaeus, head tilted back, defeated, reminds us of the deposition of Christ. This motif transcends mere representation, tapping into a shared cultural memory of sacrifice and defeat.