Tarraco (Tarragona)
After the mid-third century, Tarraco declined. Other towns, such as Barcino (Barcelona) became more important. In 476, the Visigoths captured the city, which remained the see of bishop.
Livius.Org, 2003
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Tarraco (Tarragona) |
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Built on terraces on a 160 meter high rock, and supplied from a natural harbor, Tarraco was difficult to take. During the Second Punic War (against the Carthaginian commander Hannibal and his brother Hasdrubal), the Roman commanders Publius and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio fortified the town with a 10 meter high wall, which is preserved over a distance of more than a kilometer - about a quarter of the original length. Tarraco became their base for further operations in Hispania. It remained one of the Roman provincial capitals, first of Hispania Citerior, later of Hispania Tarraconensis. | |
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The large wall was constructed on a foundation of large ("cyclopic") natural stones and consists of two parallel walls, 4 meters apart, of bossed ashlars. The core was stuffed with stones, earth, and adobe. Every ten meters, transversal braces were added. Bricks were used to close the wall. This pictures shows the three levels: cyclopic foundation, hewn stone, bricks. | |
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Three towers survive. In Antiquity, they were pretty famous. Pliny the Elder mentions them in his Natural history. In 45 BCE, Julius Caesar gave the city the rights of a colonia. Here you can see this point on a satellite photo. Note the amphitheater. | |
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After 27 BCE, the emperor Augustus used Tarraco as base for his operations against the tribe of the Cantabri, one of the largest wars in Roman history, involving nine legions (I Germanica, II Augusta, IIII Macedonica, V Alaudae, VI Victrix, VIIII Hispana, X Gemina, XX Valeria Victrix, and another unit, perhaps VIII Augusta.). | |
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A modern reconstruction of ancient Tarraco, seen from the south. The harbor is to the left; on the right hand side, the amphitheater is visible; in the center is the hippodrome, and to its right are the forum and the governor's palace (praetorium). | |
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The monument known as "the tower of the Scipiones", near the Via Augusta about eight kilometers from Tarraco, is not really the tomb of the Roman generals Publius and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, who were defeated and killed in 212 BCE by the Carthaginians. In fact, the monument dates back to the first half of the first century CE. It was well visible from the coast and must have been really impressive, especially since it was, back then, higher than today, and was painted. | |
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It consists of a base, on which a tower was erected. In the lower part of the tower, two human figures can be discerned, which were in the Middle Ages identified with the Roman commanders. In fact, they represent Atis, an oriental god related to the funeral cult. | |
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Being the capital of the largest Spanish province, Tarraco was a very rich town, and the Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona has a beautiful collection. Detail of a fresco showing a dog pursuing several deer. | |
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Many mosaics were excavated in the wealthy urban dwellings in the area known as the Pedrera del Port. This one, however, was discovered in 1955 in a villa at La Pineda near the town of Vila-seca. 6¼ meters long and 4½ meters wide, it shows all kinds of sea creatures. It was made in the third century. | |
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Probably the most famous mosaic from Tarragona is this head of the
mythological creature Medusa, with its penetrating gaze.
After the mid-third century, Tarraco declined. Other towns, such as Barcino (Barcelona) became more important. In 476, the Visigoths captured the city, which remained the see of bishop. |
Livius.Org, 2003 Revision: - |
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