Antaeus, son of Gaia, was a Libyan giant whose strength appeared invincible. He challenged all travellers to a wrestling match which he invariably won. Upon winning he slaughtered his adversaries. That is, until he met Hercules, who discovered his weakness and eventually crushed him. The myth of Antaeus has been used as a symbol of the spiritual strength which accrues when one rests one's faith on the immediate fact of things.