The Myth of Antaeus:
Antaeus was the son of Poseidon and Ge (or Gia, mother
earth). He was a giant who wrestled
Hercules. Whenever he was thrown to the
ground, he arose stronger than before from the contact with his mother. Perceiving this, Hercules finally lifted
Antaeus into the air and crushed him to death.
The myth of Antaeus simply refers to anyone who is replenished, and restored
by returning to nature. As a romantic
notion, the myth is used to refer to a process of revitalization whereby an
individual, once oppressed and overwhelmed by society, seeks solace in nature. In literature, characters often seek such
restoration in nature through the simple rituals of hunting, fishing, and
camping.