For more than 40 years, Libya has been plastered with idealized posters of Muammar Qaddafi looking young and powerful. As his regime has crumbled over the past week, they have been torn down and replaced with angry and humorous caricatures. Here, a graffiti artist sprays a noose next to Qaddafi on a wall in Gadayem, west of Tripoli, on Sunday. The same day, rebels pushed through the gates of the Libyan capital. Take a look at other representations of Qaddafi that have emerged on the streets of Libya over the past six months.
Photograph by Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images.
A Monkey and a Devil in Benghazi
A Libyan rebel points his gun at graffiti depicting Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam as a monkey on June 26. To the left, Saif’s father appears as the devil.
Photograph by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images.
Qaddafi and a Rat
Caricatures have flourished on the walls of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi since April. Here, a Libyan girl passes by a wall depicting a graffiti image of Col. Qaddafi on April 1.
Photograph by Aris Messini/AFP/Getty Images.
Qaddafi, Devil Nazi
A visitor takes pictures of graffiti on the wall of a courthouse at Revolution Square in Benghazi on April 30.
Photograph by Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images.
“Leave”
Graffiti mocks Qaddafi, with Arabic writing saying "leave," in the eastern dissident-held city of Tobruk on Feb. 24.
Photograph by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images.
A Big and Small Qaddafi
A Libyan rebel smokes in front of a wall covered in graffiti in the rebel-held city of Benghazi on April 14.
Photograph by Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images.
Evil Eyes
Hundreds of caricatures now fill walls once plastered over with idealized images of the Libyan leader. Here, street art from March 25.
Photograph by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images.
Qaddafi as Clown and Pig
Libyan rebels walk past caricatures painted on a wall in Benghazi on March 25, as coalition forces launched airstrikes against Qaddafi’s regime.
Photograph by Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images.
Qaddafi Gets the Boot
Libyan youth look at depictions of their embattled leader on April 1.
Photograph by Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images.
Qaddafi the Ape
A Libyan man walks past caricatures of Qaddafi at a gallery at Revolution Square in Benghazi on April 30.
