Antæus (ăn-tē' ŭs), in ancient fable, a giant of Libya, son of Neptune and Terra. He was a mighty wrestler and could not be conquered so long as he remained on and was in contact with the earth. Whoever came to Libya had to wrestle with him, and with the skulls of the slain he built a temple to his father Neptune. Hercules finally conquered him by lifting him from the ground and strangling him in the air.
