Nicolaus Schmidt. The watch is punched with the mark of a recognized German maker. There were two watchmakers of the same name; they were father and son. The father, who was born in 1549 in Luxemburg, became a Master in 1576. That same year he married the daughter of a reputable Augsburg Master watchmaker,Hans Fronmüller, and established himself in Augsburg. He died in 1620. His watches are in Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Basel Historisches Museum. His son, also named Nicholas, was born in 1582, became Free in 1620, and died in 1637. Hercules and Antaeus.One of Hercules' celebrated exploits was his victory over Antaeus. Antaeus, the son of Terra, the earth, was a mighty giant and wrestler, who was invincible as long as he remained in contact with his mother earth. He compelled all visitors to wrestle with him on the condition that if they lost (as they all did) they would be put to death. Hercules, seeing that it was no use throwing him, for the giant always arose with renewed strength after every fall, lifted him up and strangled him while holding him aloft. Pyramus and Thisbe. Pyramus and Thisbe were a couple of young star-crossed lovers, the ancient Babylonian equivalent of Romeo and Juliet as recounted by Ovid in his "Metamorphoses". The young people fell in love, but were prevented by their parents from marrying. One day they agreed to meet beside a well-known edifice, the tomb of Ninus. The one who arrived first was to wait at the foot of a white mulberry tree near a cool spring. Thisbe arrived first and sat down under the tree. However, a lioness approached the fountain to drink and Thisbe fled at the sight, leaving her veil behind. Pyramus then approached the place of meeting, and saw the lion's footprints, and seeing Thisbe's bloody and torn veil, deduced that his love had been killed by the animal. Drawing his sword, he plunged it into his heart. Thisbe, still trembling with fear, came out of her hiding place, and finding Pyramus dead, plunged the sword into her own breast.