This statue depicts the famous battle between La Bête du Gevaudan and Marie-Jeanne Valet that took place on August 11th 1765. During the fight, Valet defended herself and her sister by stabbing the fearsome beast in the chest with a spear. While the strike did not kill the creature, it was an incredible act of bravery and Valet was able to save herself and her sister. The two girls escaped alive. Legend has it that La Bête stood on her hind legs, placing a paw over the wound and rolled into the river nearby - vanishing until her next kill.
I had to look that one (La Bête du Gevaudan) up! (This was from 3 different sources)
ReplyDelete>>La Bete du Gevaudan was a real wolf-like monster that prowled the Auvergne and South Dordogne areas of France during the years 1764 to 1767, killing about 100 people, often in bizarre circumstances.
The Beast was eventually killed by one of the ancestors of the Argent family of Werewolf Hunters.
An autopsy of the animal revealed human remains inside, and the animal had non-wolf characteristics as described by witnesses. The attacks ended, but while it was assumed that the beast Chastel bagged was the Beast, doubts remained that it was indeed a wolf.<<
I wonder if this was the basis for the movie "The Brotherhood of The Wolf" that came out back in '02?
ReplyDeleteHad the same thought... still really like that movie. And not just for Monica Belluci and her tatas.
DeleteSame thought for the movie. It was a good one, I think it's in the library upstairs I may watch it again. Too bloody for the GF.
DeleteLegends make great stories.
ReplyDeleteBear Claw
It goes the other way around too I think....
DeleteHer? Looks like the Statue has a Pecker!
ReplyDelete