ASTÉRIX AND THE CHIEFTAIN'S SHIELD IN SAINT-ÉTIENNE

This morning, The Grandma landed in Lyon just in time to meet Claire Fontaine and Joseph de Ca'th Lon and drive to Saint-Étienne to enjoy the Northern Star, who had an important match today.

The snow has caused the match to start a little late, which has been favourable for lunch and take a nice hot coffee. She has been reading a new Astérix the Gaul adventure, this time Astérix and the Chieftain's Shield.

The match has been entertaining, especially during the first half, and after the snowstorm a storm of goals has arrived. This afternoon, they will return to Lyon where they will rest before enjoying a fantastic day of skiing tomorrow. They plan to stay until next Thursday in Lyon and are just hoping that the weather will be kind to them so that they can visit all the places they have in mind.

Astérix and the Chieftain's Shield, in French Le bouclier arverne, The Arvernian Shield, is the eleventh volume in the Astérix comic book series, written by René Goscinny and drawn by Albert Uderzo. It was originally published as a serial in Pilote issues 399-421 in 1967.

The book is inspired by the battle of Alesia, where the Gaulish warrior chief Vercingetorix surrendered to Julius Caesar. However, only the very end of the actual battle appears in the book -the main plot concerns what happened after the battle.

This episode, like Astérix and the Cauldron, is plotted like a detective novel, with a mystery to be solved at the very end.

A running gag in this book features Vitalstatistix and Winesanspirix falsely claiming I don't know where Alesia is! No one knows where Alesia is!, as if ashamed at Vercingetorix's defeat. Historically, Alesia's likely location was rediscovered only after this book was published.

The ubiquitous wine-and-coal shops in Gergovie allude to the Bougnats, Arvernian immigrants to Paris operating shops selling wine, wood, and coal.

This book establishes the origin of Vitalstatistix's shield, on which he is customarily carried, as that of Vercingetorix.

This is one among a minority of Astérix books wherein the bard Cacofonix is not tied up and gagged at -and actively participating in- the feast.

This is the first album wherein Vitalstatistix's wife Impedimenta is named.

The wheel factory is a reference to Michelin, based in Clermont-Ferrand, or the Gaullish Nemessos. In real life, the main square in Clermont-Ferrand has a statue of Vercingetorix, as opposed to the statue of Caesar in the book.

In the wheel factory, Obélix shows a desire for business success: a theme later central to Obélix and Co.

Though Vitalstatistix' hydrotherapy according to the comic book takes place in Aquae Calidae (modern Vichy), the first picture on page 10 alludes to the Source Eugénie and the thermal building in Royat where the Romans used the thermal springs for hydrotherapy as well.

In the Astérix books, a map of Gaul bears the caption that 'by 50 B.C. all Gaul was occupied by the Romans'; but the historical battle of Alesia took place about the year 52 B.C. It is treated as having occurred at least 15 years before this story; thus placing Astérix in the mid-30s B.C. (though the historical Julius Caesar, a recurring character in these books, had been murdered long before).

In Page 9, Vitalstatistix refers to 1 Timothy 5:23, regarding having a little wine for his stomach problems.

This book serves as a loose basis for the Sega Mega Drive video game Astérix and the Power of the Gods.

In most editions of the book, including the original French but excluding the English translation, the Arvernians talk in a dialect where they pronounce each "s" sound as "sh". This is an homage to the dialect spoken in the Auvergne region in France. This is even made fun of when an Arvernian youth pronouncing "s" normally appears, and the other Arvernians comment that he has a lisp.

Key Lessons From Asterix And The Chieftain's Shield

-The Importance of Strong Leadership. The book emphasizes the importance of strong leadership through the character of Chief Vitalstatistix. His leadership skills are tested when his shield containing the village's secrets is stolen, and he must gather the courage to protect his tribe and recover it.

-The Significance of Community. Astérix and his fellow villagers demonstrate the power of unity and community support. They come together to help their chief, using their individual talents to overcome obstacles and triumph over their enemies.

-The Value of Friendship. The book also highlights the importance of friendship and loyalty. Astérix and his best friend Obélix always stand by each other and support one another in their adventures. This demonstrates the strength of their bond and the positive impact it has on their mission.

-Courage and Determination. Throughout the story, the characters display immense courage and determination in the face of challenges. They take risks, face their fears, and never back down from defending their tribe and their values.

-The Folly of Power and Greed. The book offers a critique of power and greed through the character of Claudius Civilis and his associates. Their lust for power drives them to steal Chief Vitalstatistix's shield and disrupt the harmony of the Gauls. This serves as a cautionary tale about the negative consequences of unchecked ambition and greed.

 Download Astérix and the Chieftain's Shield by R. Goscinny & A. Uderzo

It never rains but it always pours.

Unhygienix