Vladimir Putin's 62nd birthday is honored in the most Putin-esque way
Tuesday is Vladimir Putin's 62 birthday. And what, you might ask, do you get the ever immodest Russian premier who has everything?
Why, a dedicated art exhibit comparing him to the Greek mythical hero Hercules, of course.
The art show, which opened Monday in Moscow, is called The 12 Labors of Putin and it was held by members of a pro-Putin Facebook group. In the portraits the president — drawn with rippling muscles and washboard abs — battles stallions, wild boars, multi-headed serpents, and single-handedly shoots down American jets with a bow and arrow.
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It may be the ultimate present for a leader who appears in candid photographs to moonlight as the shirtless star of his own romance novels. And though Kremlin officials insist Putin doesn't care for ostentatious celebrations, his supporters go above and beyond year after year.
Here, a ranking of Putin's most recent and extravagant birthday presents:
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Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.
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