: The interaction between the architect and the multinational slave team parodies modern trade unions and labor strikes.
: It satirizes the "villes nouvelles" (new cities) and high-rise developments of that era.
is a classic entry in the Asterix series that explores a more subtle form of Roman conquest: civilization and urban sprawl. Instead of brute force, Julius Caesar attempts to absorb the "indomitable Gauls" by building a luxury apartment complex near their village to force them to assimilate into Roman culture. Plot Summary Asterix The Mansions Of The Gods
The book was adapted into a 3D computer-animated film in 2014, directed by Alexandre Astier and Louis Clichy. It captured the comics' spirit and was successful in France. While largely faithful, it expanded certain characters' roles, such as a Roman family that wins an apartment in a lottery. Available Versions The story is available in several formats:
Caesar, frustrated by military failures, tasks architect with building a housing development, "The Mansions of the Gods," in the forest surrounding the Gaulish village. : The interaction between the architect and the
The Gauls eventually allow the project's completion, hoping to scare away the Romans. However, Roman tourists turn the village into a commercialized trap, causing inflation and social chaos.
The Gauls drive the Romans out by moving , the village's bard, into the apartments. His terrible singing forces the Romans to flee, leaving the project abandoned. Key Themes & Satire Instead of brute force, Julius Caesar attempts to
The story offers social commentary, particularly regarding 1970s France: