Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts — for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 4 The Romans capture Cacofonix as a gift for Caesar who plans to throw him to the lions. To get into the Circus Maximus and rescue their bard, Asterix and Obelix have to become gladiators.

The little Gaulish village where Asterix and Obelix live has just one drawback — its bard is the worst musician in the entire ancient world. When Cacofonix strikes up, his singing sends the sun behind clouds and makes rain begin to fall. But that's just what they want in the distant Eastern kingdom of Rajah Watzit, where the guru Hoodunnit, with his sidekick Owzat, is threatening to end a terrible drought by sacrificing the lovely Princess Orinjade. The fakir Watziznehm arrives by flying carpet to ask the Gauls for help and just for once, after many adventures, Cacofonix can feel that his talents are properly appreciated.

The druid Getafix is running short of rock oil — an essential ingredient in the magic potion, which gives the Gaulish villagers superhuman strength to fight Julius Caesar's Roman legions. But the Phoenician merchant Ekonomikrisis has forgotten the druid's order, and Asterix and Obelix set off to prospect for black gold in the Middle Eastern desert. Their mission is complicated by the Roman secret agent Dubbelosix and his amazing folding chariot, which is equipped with all the latest spy gadgets. Although they finally come home empty-handed, all is not lost — Getafix has discovered that beetroot juice works just as well in the potion...