Ambiorix, Bronze monument in Tongeren, Belgium
Ambiorix is a bronze statue in Tongeren depicting a tribal leader in Germanic attire with a dragon helmet, holding an axe and standing over Roman weapons on a stone base. The work sits at a central square in the city and is surrounded by decorative fencing that displays ancient artistic patterns.
Belgian artist Jules Bertin created the monument in 1866 to honor the leader of the Eburones tribe who defeated Roman legions in 54 BCE under Julius Caesar. The work stands in a place that holds meaning for remembering this ancient battle.
The fence around the statue includes Celtic design elements like spears, wild boar heads, and arrows that echo the artistic traditions of ancient tribes. These ornaments speak to the skills and symbols that mattered to the people who once lived in this region.
The monument is located at Grote Markt 1 and remains accessible to visitors year-round as it sits in a public space. Local authorities regularly maintain the bronze statue to keep it in good condition.
The bronze statue was first exhibited at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris before King Leopold II inaugurated it in Tongeren. This international exhibition made the artwork a noted European work before it found its permanent home in the Belgian city.
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