Picture of the times

"Dying Gaul and his wife" circa 220 BCE.

I am taking an Art History class at UMASS. This sculpture was one of several that we studied last night. I found it very engaging. According to Julius Caesar's own account, the Gauls made combat in the nude. Their wives would go to battle to cook for them and to cheer them on. The Gaulish warriors, on defeat, killed themselves and their women--not necessarily in that order--to prevent being taken as slaves. What struck me most about this sculpture was that the Gaul is still holding on to the wife that he has just slain. Or maybe he is lowering her to the ground. Either way, it shows his presence of mind (and perhaps his fondness for her) even during such a trying time.