60 years of Astérix: curiosities about the names of the characters

Asterix, the famous French comic that has won a legion of fans worldwide turns 60 on October 29th. Filled with metaphors and historical references, the plot, set in Ancient Gaul (the region that today corresponds to France) during the period of the Roman Republic, is characterized by its correspondence with the past and the present in a unique way.

In honor of the work, French linguists from the Babbel language application team selected language curiosities related to Asterix characters. Check out:

“In French, all character names have a meaning. Thus, it is possible to recognize straight away who is Gallic and who is Roman in history. Gaul names usually end in -ix and Roman names in -us. The ending "-ix" is a reference to the famous Gaul chief Vercingetorix, ”according to Laure Cesari, Project Manager of Babbel's French Didactic Team.

Asterix

Asterix is ​​the star of the story. Thus, it received the name of the typographic symbol * - astérisque in French. The French term comes from the Greek word aster, which means star.

Obelix

Obélix is ​​Asterix's best friend. It is named after the typographic symbol (†), which is sometimes used to indicate a second footnote. In French, Obélix comes from obélisque (Portuguese obelisk) and means pointed monument. In Latin, obeliscus . In Greek, obeliskos .

Ideafix

The dog is Obelix's inseparable companion. Its name, Idéfix, in French, refers to the fixed idea. The dog is also famous for its environmental concerns that put it far ahead of the time when its character was raised.

Panoramix

It is the village priest who knows the secret of the magic potion that gives power to the Gauls. Its name comes from the Greek pan (all) and horama (vision). In other words, it is the all-seeing one - summarizing well the role of a druid.

Abracurcix

It's the village chief. The name Abraracourcix refers to the French expression a bras raccourcis, which means: with shortened arms. The term describes posture in a fight: with clenched fists and raised arms.