6 replies to this topic

[stevew]

I was going through my copy of AutoCourse 2000-2001, and in the report on the European GP there is a picture of some Agip signage showing what looks like some kind of fire-breathing six-legged animal.

I think Agip is an Italian fuel company?

What's up with that logo though?

[jun]

Agip is indeed very italian. I know Rome has a ancient story about the beginning of its city where a wolf is involved raising 2 boys (Romus and Remulus). And there is a statue of the wolf where the 2 are drinking underneath it from its nipples. It's like they changed the boys with those extra 2 legs (?)

If i'm wrong. forgive me, i'm not italian.

[maxim]

The AGIP logo is a 6-legged dog.
In 1952 AGIP announced a contest for designers who had to submit a project for a new logo.
Between more than 1000 projects, the 6-legged dog was the chosen one.

Nice try anyway, Jun !

[Stefan Ornerdal]

Please take a look at this page and check this logo of a Swedish petrol company:

http://www.geocities...oppartrans.html

Who stole the logo from who? Or at least the idea? These petrol stations was very common 1953 to 1963 when they were overtaken by Shell.

The company was owned by Kopparberg (Koppar=copper) and shipping company Transatlantic. They exported copper to North America and oil on the way home to Sweden.

Stefan

[gdecarli]

I'm lurking old threads and I find this one. I don't like to answer to such an old message, but I think that this matter can be very interesting, as I think it is quite unknown. This info come from http://web.tiscali.i...ria/Agellum.htm, of course I can not verify it.

Once upon a time in Lombardia, East of Milano, Italy, there was a lake (I think quite similar to a swamp rather than a clean water lake) called Lago Gerundo. This laked was dried in middle age (before 1300) and now there in this area there are only fields.

But - you know - legends have a strong life and still survive. One says that in that lake used to live a terrifying dragon, called Tarantasio. A fabulous monster in which the popular fantasy transform the bad-smelling of those swampy and unhealty areas.
Tarantasio inspired Agip logo designer, that transform it in a fire-breathing dog with 6 legs.



Agip official website has a page about this logo (only in Italian; www.agippetroli.it/agipzone/marchio.html), but it doesn't mention anything about this story; it says only that "the six-legged dog is the faithful friend of the four-wheeled man", but it doesn't say anything about fire breathing.

Ciao,
Guido
www.gdecarli.tk

[Frank S]

Jun:

" . . . (Romus and Remulus) . . ."

This was bait, right?

That's called chiasmus, a crossing of parts.

Romulus and Remus.

Their story includes Romulus building a wall around his new city, whereupon Remus said derisively, "That puny wall won't protect anyone from anything!" Whereupon he jumped the wall to demonstrate how easy it was. Romulus promptly dealt him a lethal blow.

Or was it the other way 'round?


Frank S

[gdecarli]

You are right about Romolus and Remus (not Romus and Remulus!). You can read more about this legend on www.mclink.it/n/citrag/roma/doc/legend/elg_112.htm (in English). This is the bronze statue of the wolf (Lupa Capitolina) and the two twin babies, symbol of Rome.



This is nothing to do with Agip logo and six-legged fire-breathing dog.

Ciao,
Guido