The Mansions of the Gods is the seventeenth volume of the Asterixcomic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. It was originally serialized in the magazine Pilote, issues 591–612, in 1971, and translated into English in 1973. It was the first not to use Asterix's name in the title.
Plot summary
With the intent to force the village of indomitable Gauls to accept Roman civilization, Julius Caesar plans to destroy the surrounding forest to make way for a Roman patriciancolony, called the 'Mansions of the Gods'. The project is led by the architect Squaronthehypotenus, who orders an army of slaves of various nationalities to pull down the trees in the forest. With the help of Getafix's magic, Asterix and Obelix plant acorns that grow into mature oak trees instantly; whereupon an increasingly erratic Squaronthehypotenus threatens "to work the slaves to death". Taking this literally, Asterix gives the slaves magic potion with which to rebel; but the slaves, upon rebellion, do not stop work and leave, as Asterix intended, but insist on better working conditions, regular pay, and freedom after completing the first block of the Mansions of the Gods. Upon hearing that the slaves are better paid than they, the Roman legionaries go on strike for similar and better conditions for themselves. Since the freedom of the slaves depends on constructing at least one building, the Gauls allow the work to proceed. After their release, a group of the former slaves "float a company" with their wages. Finally, the first completed building of the Mansions of the Gods is inhabited by Roman families: the first of these consisting of a patrician husband and wife selected by lottery. These Romans then go shopping in the village which, before long, turns into a market town selling "antique" weapons and fish to the Romans, embroiled in price wars and assuming Roman dress. To counteract this, Asterix asks Squaronthehypotenus for an apartment, but is told they are full; whereafter the initial winners of the first apartment are continually harassed by Obelix acting like a rabid monster, with Asterix holding him back. The next day, the couple returns to Rome, and Asterix arranges for Cacofonix the bard to move into the vacated apartment. As a result of the bard's discordant nocturnal practice, the rest of the Roman inhabitants return to Rome as well. Squaronthehypotenus tries to keep the Mansions in business by bringing the local Roman soldiers as tenants and expels Cacofonix from the building; whereupon the Gauls take this as an insult, and destroy the Roman colony. The legionnaires gratefully return to their camp and Squaronthehypotenus announces his plan to go toEgypt to build pyramids in the desert with "nice quiet tenants". That evening, the Gauls hold their usual celebratory banquet and the ruins of the mansion are covered by Getafix's instantaneous trees.
Commentary
Following the French riots of May 1968, Goscinny made increasing reference in Asterix to current political events in France. In Mansions of the Gods he caricatures modern technocracy, the gigantic "villes nouvelles" of high-rises, and especially advertising. The quizmaster in the Circus Maximus who coerces the reluctant winner to accept his prize, is a caricature of the French television entertainer Guy Lux.
Adaptations
The Mansions of the Gods was adapted as the computer-animated feature film . Produced in France by M6 Studio and Mikros Image, it was the first Asterix film animated in 3D, and was released in France on November 26, 2014.
