Vercingétorix Monument
Record: 6.60 m
The Vercingetorix Monument (1865) is a statuary monument dedicated to the Gaulish chieftain Vercingetorix, defeated by Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars. It is designated as a monument historique.
Wikipedia
The statue of Vercingetorix
Conclude your visit by walking round to the western side of Mont-Auxois. Here, where the oppidum overlooks the final battlefield between the Gauls and the Romans, you will find the famous statue of Vercingetorix.
To commemorate the successful completion of the archaeological digs at Alesia, Napoleon III commissioned a gigantic statue of Vercingetorix from the sculptor Aimé Millet. The statue, made of sheet copper and standing 6.60 metres tall, was erected in 1865. The stone pedestal is seven metres tall and was designed by the architect Viollet-le-Duc.
Vercingetorix’s face, inspired by the young Napoleon III, and his attitude express resignation after the defeat. The portrayal is awash with anachronisms, for the pearl necklace is pure fantasy, and the breastplate, sword and straps clasping the breeches belong to other eras ... The end result fits the stereotype disseminated in the 19th and 20th centuries by popular prints and school textbooks: mustachioed Gauls with long hair, wearing winged or horned helmets, with a penchant for war and hunting and living in huts. All misconceptions now brought to light by archaeological finds and analyses of ancient texts.
WikipediaWebsite:https://www.alesia.com/lieux-de-visite/#statue
