The Mansions of the Gods

The Mansions of the Gods is the seventeenth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was originally serialized in Pilote issues 591-612 in 1971 and translated into English in 1973.

Plot summary

With the intent to wipe out the Gaulish village by any means necessary, Caesar concocts a plan to absorb the villagers into Roman culture by having an estate built next to the village to start a new Roman colony. The colony is to be called the Mansions of the Gods.

The project is led by the architect Squaronthehypotenus. He begins by getting an army of slaves of various races and countries to pull down the trees in the forest. With the help of Getafix' magic, Asterix and Obelix sabotage the plan by planting instant-growth trees, thus repairing the damage. Obsessed with getting the work done, an increasingly erratic Squaronthehypotenus threatens to work the slaves to death. Taking this remark literally, Asterix gives them magic potion with which to fight back.

Although the slaves are given magic potion in order to rise up, they do not stop work and leave, as Asterix intended. Instead they insist on better working conditions, regular pay and being freed with the consent of their masters after completing the first building of the Mansions of the Gods (the negotiations seem similar to that of modern-day employers and trade unionists). Upon hearing that the slaves are getting better pay than they are, the Roman legionaries also go on strike demanding similar and better conditions for themselves (a common occurrence among French strikers). Since the freedom of the slaves depends on constructing at least one building, the Gauls allow the work to proceed.

Finally, the first building of the Mansions of the Gods is built and inhabited by Roman families. These Romans then go shopping at the village which, before too long, turns into a market town with the inhabitants opening a variety of shops to cater to the Romans. In additon, they start to engage in price wars, literally since there is a an actual fist-fight over the issue. The villagers are in disunion and are adapting to Roman ways, which was Caesar's intention.

Through some brilliant play-acting, Asterix and Obelix manage to drive out a Roman couple who have been residing in the mansion and have Cacofonix move into the vacated apartment. As a result of the bard's night-time practising, the rest of the Roman inhabitants are quickly driven out. Squaronthehypotenus tries to keep the place in business by bringing the local Roman soldiers in as tenants, and naturally expels Cacofonix from the building. The Gauls take this as an insult to their pride and bring the building down to the ground.

The story ends with the usual banquet (in which Cacofonix takes part) and the ruins of the mansion ending up as picturesque parts of the woodland.

Commentary

The book represents a particularly potent satire of 1970s France. Following the explosive riots of May 1968, Goscinny took Asterix in a direction with increasing content referring to current political events in France. This album represents both his dig against technocracy (the young urban planner), the gigantic "villes nouvelles" (new cities) of high-rises which were being created around Paris and especially advertising — the promotion of the Domain of the Gods which reads like a parody of soon-to-be erected golden real estate investment opportunity.

Trivia

• At the beginning of the story, Caesar describes to his associates the defeat of Vercingetorix: the Gaulish chieftain is shown kneeling and pleading before Caesar. The Roman dictator does not appear to want to reveal what really happened. Other Asterix adventures (Asterix the Gaul and Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield) show the bold and proud Vercingetorix throwing his weapons at (that is, literally on to) the feet of Caesar, making him scream in pain.
• Squaronthehypotenus' drive-in amphitheatre for chariots is based on the drive-in theater.
• 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.

In other languages

• Catalan: La residència dels déus
• Finnish: Jumaltenrannan nousu ja tuho (The Rise and Fall of Gods' Shore)
• German: Die Trabantenstadt
• Greek: Η κατοικία των θεών
• Italian: Asterix e il Regno degli Dei
• Polish: Osiedle bogów
• Portuguese: O domínio dos deuses
• Spanish: La residencia de los dioses
• Turkish: Tanrılar Sitesi