Boduognat

In 1861, a monumental sculpture was inaugurated at the crossroads of the then Leopoldlei (today Belgiëlei) and Nerviërsstraat. It was dedicated to the historical figure Boduognat, chieftain of the Nervians, a Gallic tribe that resisted the Roman invasions. The monument was the work of Joseph-Jacques Ducaju, who began it in 1859. 

The original monument depicted Boduognat full-length, as a naked warrior armed with a spear, seated upon two Roman soldiers he had slain. His wild hair and noble facial features carved in stone were particularly striking. In the 19th century, such mythological-historical figures were popular subjects serving the nationalism and patriotism of the young Belgian state. 

For traffic reasons, the city council decided in 1954 to remove the monument. Only the head of Boduognat was preserved and for a time displayed at Antwerp Zoo. It is now permanently on view in the open-air depot of the Antwerp public art collection at the Middelheim Museum. 

Joseph-Jacques Ducaju (1823–1891) was a Belgian sculptor and architect. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and was known for his monumental works and portraits.