The Giant Antaeus 1868

Gustave Doré masterfully created this engraving of The Giant Antaeus to illustrate Dante’s *Inferno*. Observe the monumental Antaeus, his massive form a direct descendant of classical Titans, embodying raw, untamed power. He cradles Dante and Virgil, figures dwarfed by his immensity. This protective yet imposing gesture echoes images of Atlas bearing the world, symbolizing a burden of existence. But consider, too, the subtle terror: Antaeus, rooted to the earth, gains strength from it. His defeat by Hercules, who lifted him from the ground, speaks to a fundamental human fear—the loss of connection to one's source, a primal anxiety of being uprooted. The descent into the abyss, facilitated by this giant, is laden with psychological weight, suggesting an inward journey into the deepest recesses of the self. Such imagery resonates across time, a cyclical return to themes of power, vulnerability, and the search for grounding in an uncertain world.