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Asterix and the Laurel Wreath

 
Asterix and the Laurel Wreath

 
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Asterix and the Laurel Wreath
 
 
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Asterix and the Laurel Wreath is the eighteenth volume of the Asterix
Asterix

The Adventures of Asterix is a List of Asterix volumes of France comic strips written by Ren? Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959....
 comic book series
List of Asterix volumes

This is a list of all Asterix volumes, including the 33 official albums and various tie-ins....
, by René Goscinny
René Goscinny

Ren? Goscinny was a Polish-French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic book Ast?rix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the early issues of the comic book series Lucky Luke with Morris ....
 (stories) and Albert Uderzo
Albert Uderzo

Albert Uderzo is a French comic book artist, and Script . He is best known for his work on the Asterix series, but also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, also in collaboration with Ren? Goscinny....
 (illustrations). It was originally serialized in Pilote
Pilote

Pilote was a Franco-Belgian comics magazines published from 1959 to 1989. Showcasing most of the major Franco-Belgian comics talents of its day the magazine introduced major series such as Ast?rix, Blueberry , Achille Talon, and Val?rian and Laureline....
 issues 621-642 in 1971 and translated in to English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 in 1974.

story begins in Rome
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
 where Asterix and Obelix are talking. Asterix is angry and frustrated and vents his annoyance on Obelix.

To explain why they are in Rome, the story flashes back to Lutetia
Lutetia

Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman era Gaul. The Gallo-Roman city was a forerunner of the re-established Merovingian town that is the ancestor of present-day Paris....
 where Asterix, Obelix, Chief Vitalstatistix and his wife Impedimenta are on a shopping trip.






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Asterix and the Laurel Wreath is the eighteenth volume of the Asterix
Asterix

The Adventures of Asterix is a List of Asterix volumes of France comic strips written by Ren? Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959....
 comic book series
List of Asterix volumes

This is a list of all Asterix volumes, including the 33 official albums and various tie-ins....
, by René Goscinny
René Goscinny

Ren? Goscinny was a Polish-French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic book Ast?rix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the early issues of the comic book series Lucky Luke with Morris ....
 (stories) and Albert Uderzo
Albert Uderzo

Albert Uderzo is a French comic book artist, and Script . He is best known for his work on the Asterix series, but also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, also in collaboration with Ren? Goscinny....
 (illustrations). It was originally serialized in Pilote
Pilote

Pilote was a Franco-Belgian comics magazines published from 1959 to 1989. Showcasing most of the major Franco-Belgian comics talents of its day the magazine introduced major series such as Ast?rix, Blueberry , Achille Talon, and Val?rian and Laureline....
 issues 621-642 in 1971 and translated in to English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 in 1974.

Plot summary

The story begins in Rome
Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
 where Asterix and Obelix are talking. Asterix is angry and frustrated and vents his annoyance on Obelix.

To explain why they are in Rome, the story flashes back to Lutetia
Lutetia

Lutetia was a town in pre-Roman and Roman era Gaul. The Gallo-Roman city was a forerunner of the re-established Merovingian town that is the ancestor of present-day Paris....
 where Asterix, Obelix, Chief Vitalstatistix and his wife Impedimenta are on a shopping trip. The men are loaded with parcels and packages. Furthermore they are visiting Impedimenta's brother Homeopathix. Vitalstatistix dislikes Homeopathix, a rich, crass businessman who immediately shows off his wealth. Impedimenta is always reproaching Vitalstatistix for not matching this wealth or getting on with her brother. At dinner, Vitalstatistix quickly gets drunk and offers Homeopathix something money can't possibly buy: a stew seasoned with Caesar's laurel wreath. An equally drunk Obelix declares that Vitalstatistix is "ferpectly right" and volunteers himself and Asterix to fetch the wreath.

The story now returns to Rome. Asterix and Obelix see a man coming out of Caesar's palace. Discovering that he is a slave there, they decide to offer themselves as slaves and go to the slave trader Typhus, who has only the best slaves to offer and who also supplies Caesar's palace. Typhus' other slaves are a rather snobbish, arrogant lot and their attitude soon provokes the Gauls into a fight. A man, whom Asterix believes is Caesar's major-domo, is amused and offers to buy them.

However, he turns out to be Osseus Humerus, a wealthy patrician
Patrician

The term "patrician" originally referred to a group of elitism citizens in ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman empire, the class was broadened to include high council officials, and after the fall of the Western Empire became a term for Byzantine Imperial governors in the West....
 who has nothing to do with Caesar's household. The Gauls are placed under the supervision of Goldendelicius, Humerus' chief slave. Goldendelicius soon expresses his intense dislike of the two Gauls because they come from Typhus — which is a mark of distinction — and he doesn't and he's worried about his position as head slave.

Disappointed that they have not made it into the palace, Asterix and Obelix make several disruptive attempts to have Humerus give them back to Typhus; they cook a very volatile stew, which accidentally cures Humerus' heavy-drinking son Metatarsus of his constant hangovers; and disturb the sleeping family by making a lot of noise, which only inspires them to throw a wild party.

Humerus was due to go to Caesar's palace for a meeting with an official there. As a result of the party he has a bad hangover and tells the Gauls to go and tell the official that he cannot attend.

Goldendelicius is still concerned that Asterix and Obelix will take over his job, so he slips away to the palace himself and tells the guards that the Gauls are planning to kill Caesar. As a result, Asterix and Obelix are thrown into the palace cells upon arrival. Under this advantageous situation, they break out during the night and comb the palace in search of the laurel wreath but to no avail. Frustrated and tired, they return to their cell, much to the confusion of the palace guards. Asterix decides that the only option is to find Caesar himself, since the laurel wreath is usually on his head.

The next morning a lawyer comes to defend Asterix and Obelix, who are to face trial for the "attempt" on Caesar's life. It's already taken for granted that they will be found guilty and thrown to the lions in the Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus is an ancient hippodrome and mass entertainment venue located in Rome. Situated in the valley between the Aventine Hill and Palatine Hill hills, it was the first and largest circus in ancient Rome....
, which Caesar himself might attend. Since it is a show trial
Show trial

The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly public trial. The term was first recorded in the 1930s. There is a strong connotation that the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant and that the actual trial has as its only goal to present the accusation and the verdict to the public as an...
 anyway, the lawyer decides to take advantage to show off his oratory skills. When the prosecutor announces that he is going to make the same speech, the defence lawyer calls for a suspension in proceedings. Anxious to be sentenced to the Circus in order to catch Caesar, it is Asterix himself who makes a passioned speech for the prosecution, outlining all the wrongdoings committed by himself and Obelix: the wrecking of Typhus' slave stand, the chaos in the Humerus household and the "plot" against Caesar. The whole audience, including Typhus and the Humeruses, is moved by this plea of guilty and the Gauls are sentenced to death in the Circus.

In the cells, they are treated to first-class meals and gifts are even sent by Typhus and Humerus.

However, as they are about to enter the arena, Asterix and Obelix learn that Caesar is actually not present, having gone off to fight pirates
Recurring characters in Asterix

This is a list of recurring characters in the Asterix comics....
. Stubbornly, the Gauls refuse to go into the arena until he returns, which results in the big cats in the arena eating each other, a mass riot of the audience, and everyone (including Asterix and Obelix and the last remaining lion) getting evicted from the circus.

That night, Asterix and Obelix sleep inside a doorway, where they are spotted by a group of brigands. The latters' attempt to rob the two Gauls results in a thrashing for the bandits. Impressed, their chief offers Asterix and Obelix a place to stay in return for their participation in their raids. The next night, the gang runs into a drunk who turns out to be Metatarsus. Refusing to allow them to attack an innocent, Asterix and Obelix thrash the bandits again.

From Metatarsus the two Gauls learn that he had just been celebrating with Goldendelicius in a nearby tavern for Goldendelicius' promotion as Caesar's personal slave, and that Caesar is about to make a triumph
Roman triumph

A Roman triumph was a civil religion and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publically celebrate the achievements of an army commander who had won great military successes, originally and traditionally, who had successfully completed a war....
 the very next day for his victory over the pirates. Asterix and Obelix corner Goldendelicius in the tavern (where he has fallen into a drunken sleep) and coerce him to exchange Caesar's laurel wreath for one made of parsley
Parsley

Parsley is a bright green, biennial plant herb, also used as spice. It is very common in Middle Eastern cuisine, European cuisine, and American cuisine cooking....
. The next morning, just before the triumph, Asterix and Goldendelicius secretly switch wreaths.

The next day, during the triumph
Roman triumph

A Roman triumph was a civil religion and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publically celebrate the achievements of an army commander who had won great military successes, originally and traditionally, who had successfully completed a war....
, Goldendelicius holds the wreath over Caesar's head, nervously worried that he'll notice that it is made of parsley. The dictator does not notice the switch, though he secretly "feels like a piece of fish".

Upon Asterix and Obelix's return, Homeopathix arrives in his brother-in-law's village in order to eat the stew with Caesar's laurel wreath. Vitalstatistix even states that a wealthy man like him would never be able to eat such a meal in his own house. Homeopathix "agrees" by sarcastically pointing out that it is overcooked and the meat in not up to the quality he expects at home. This causes Vitalstatistix to punch him sky-high in a fit of rage.

Named characters

  • Asterix
    Asterix

    The Adventures of Asterix is a List of Asterix volumes of France comic strips written by Ren? Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959....
  • Obelix
    Obelix

    Obelix a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix ' best friend....
  • Vitalstatistix
    Recurring characters in Asterix

    This is a list of recurring characters in the Asterix comics....
  • Impedimenta
    Recurring characters in Asterix

    This is a list of recurring characters in the Asterix comics....
     - Vitalstatistix' wife
  • Homeopathix - Impedimenta's brother
  • Tapioca - Homeopathix' wife
  • Kumakros - One of Caesar's slaves
  • Typhus - Owner of The House Of Typhus
  • Osseus Humerus
  • Fibula - Osseus Humerus' wife
  • Tibia - Osseus Humerus' daughter
  • Metatarsus - Osseus Humerus' son
  • Goldendelicius - Osseus Humerus' slave, now Caesar's slave
  • Titus Nisiprius - lawyer
  • Habeascorpus - Chief of a group of thieves
  • Julius Caesar
    Julius Caesar

    'Gaius Julius Caesar' , July 13, 100 BC ? March 15, 44 BC,) was a Roman Republic military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....


In other languages

  • Arabic
    Arabic language

    Arabic is a Central Semitic language, thus related to and classified alongside other Semitic languages languages such as Hebrew language and Aramaic language....
    : ??????? ? ?????? ????? (Asteriks we-iklil el-ghar)
  • Catalan
    Catalan language

    Catalan is a Romance languages, the national language and official language of Andorra, and a official language in the Autonomous Communities of Spain of the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencian Community and in the city of Alghero in the Italy List of islands in the Mediterranean of Sardinia....
    : Els llorers del Cèsar
  • Dutch
    Dutch language

    Dutch is a West Germanic languages spoken by over 22 million people as a first language, and about 5 million people as a second language."1% of the EU population claims to speak Dutch well enough in order to have a conversation." Outside the European Union the number of second language speakers of Dutch is very small. Most native...
    : De lauwerkrans van Caesar
  • Finnish
    Finnish language

    Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by Finnish people outside of Finland. It is one of the official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden....
    : Asterix ja Caesarin laakeriseppele (also translated into Helsinki slang
    Helsinki slang

    Helsinki slang or slangi is a local variation of the Finnish language mainly used in the capital Helsinki.Helsinki slang is based on colloquial Finnish ....
     under the title Kessen rehukotsa, roughly meaning "Caesie's weed hat")
  • German
    German language

    German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
    : Die Lorbeeren des Cäsar
  • Greek
    Greek language

    Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
    : ?? d?f?e? t?? ?a?sa?a
  • Italian
    Italian language

    Italian is a Romance languages spoken by about 63 million people as a first language, primarily in Italy. In Switzerland, Italian is one of four Linguistic geography of Switzerlands....
    : Asterix e gli allori di Cesare
  • Norwegian
    Norwegian language

    Norwegian is a North Germanic languages language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language. It is also spoken as a second language among Norwegian-Americans in the United States of America, especially in the central northern states....
    : Cæsars laurbær
  • Polish
    Polish language

    Polish , an official language of Poland, has the largest number of speakers of any West Slavic languages. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner through most of Poland, and it has a regular orthography....
    : Laury Cezara
  • Portuguese
    Portuguese language

    Portuguese is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia and Portugal. It is derived from the Latin language spoken by the Romanization Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula around 2000 years ago....
    : Os louros de César
  • Serbian
    Serbian language

    name=Serbian|nativename=|pronunciation=['sr?pski?]|familycolor=Indo-European|map=|states=See below under "Official status", besides that in Croatia and as an immigrant's language spread over Central Europe and Western Europe, as well as Northern America...
    : ??????? ?????
  • Spanish
    Spanish language

    Spanish or Castilian is a Romance languages that originated in northern Spain, and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile and evolved into the principal language of government and trade....
    : Los laureles del César
  • Turkish
    Turkish language

    Turkish is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Cyprus, with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and other parts of Eastern Europe....
    : Asteriks ve Sezar'in Taci