Last week I has the pleasure of recording a rather rare folding
knife handle found recently in Kesteven. The knife shows
Hercules and Antaeus wrestling with each other, and is depicted
with amazing detail and action. Hercules is the chap standing
behind with his arms wrapped around Antaeus’ waist throwing
Antaeus to the ground. This knife handle represents an ancient
myth, and therefore indicates that some people living in the
Lincolnshire countryside were well aquained with Classical Roman
mythology. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin… There
was once a demi-god called Antaues, a giant of Libya, the son of
the sea god Poseidon and the Earth goddess Gaea. He lived in a
cave in the woods and he compelled all those who passed through
the countryside to wrestle with him. He had such great strength
that he defeated and killed everyone he challenged. One day, he
met Hercules and challenged him to a wrestle. Hercules outplayed
Antaeus, yet despite how many times he threw Antaeus to the
ground he could not