The somewhat heavyset gentleman depicted above, who is perched, Prometheus-like, overlooking the city of Guanajuato, is called Pipila, and is something of a local hero.
What, you might wonder, did Pipila do to attain his status as hero? Something to do with fire, one might guess.
Your guess would be correct. Did he bring fire to the people of Guanajuato?
Well, yes, in a manner of speaking. In a heroic action that once again proves that heroism probably depends on one's point of view, during assorted hostilities surrounding the revolutionary fervor of 1810, Pipila's contribution to the conflict was to bring fire to the Spaniards who had holed up in the Alhondiga fortress/granary pictured above, essentially burning everyone inside to a state of crispy goodness.
I guess the criteria for being a revolutionary hero were a little different back then. Then again, maybe not all that different.
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