[Was cannibalism practiced in ancient Gaul? Critognatus, the leader of the Celts, in the focus of Caesar's propaganda].

Critognatus, the leader of the Celts, is mentioned only once in the extant ancient literature, namely in Caesar's description of the siege of Alesia in BG VII 77.2-78.2. Here he is portrayed as a determined patriot who wants to encounter the Roman invader bravely and at the risk of all available means. Nevertheless, crafty Caesar succeeds in stamping him by propagandistic pinches to an evil monster and cannibal. On the one hand Caesar falls back on current Roman prejudices towards the Gauls. On the other hand, the endocannibalism practised among Celts to a certain extent as a cult action seems to have played a rôle. Caesar's propagandistic methods are transparent and at the same time so effective that the label of an ogre sticks to Critognatus until the present day. Caesar's portrayal aims above all at the justification of his Gallic War which he wages against uncivilized and inhuman opponents who are a menace to Rome and even to the culture itself.