this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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Where war elephants were once used (i.redd.it)
submitted 19 hours ago by ooli3@sopuli.xyz to c/map_enthusiasts@sopuli.xyz
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[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 16 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

There's a city in France (Chambery) in honour of the Indian Maratha with four elephants surrounding a fountain, they only have the front sculpted so they're called "les quatre sans cul": the four without ass because the sculptor apparently didn't know their anatomy

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 8 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Is that actually true or just an urban legend? Full elephants would make the sculpture HUGE, it'd take up so much space

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)
[–] glimse@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry, I meant the claim that the sculptor not knowing how to make the back half. I definitely believe you on the name! That wiki page isn't available in English but I translated it and only found this:

The legend[Which?] says that this square is made up of four elephants without backs since its sculptor did not know how to do the back says the "ass" of the elephants. This is what would have given the name of the 4 without asses.

I read about the construction elsewhere and only having the fronts seemed deliberate

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Oh right, yeah that one is probably gossip haha

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 3 points 15 hours ago

I love a good urban legend

[–] four@lemmy.zip 0 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Damn, people really demand fully modeled elephant sculptures?

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 2 points 16 hours ago

Of course, it's France after all 😝