Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/226

 212 STRABO. CASAUB. 141. CHAPTER II. 1. TURDETANIA lies above the coast on this side the Guadi- ana, 1 and is intersected by the river GuajMcjuiver. 2 It is bounded on the west and north by the river Guadiana ; on the east by certain of the Carpetani and the Oretani ; on the south by those of the Bastetani who inhabit the narrow slip of coast between Calpe and Gadeira, and by the sea beyond as far as the Guadiana. The Bastetani whom I have mentioned, together with the people on the other side the Guadiana, and many of the places adjacent, belong to Turdetania. The size of this country in its length and breadth does not exceed two thousand stadia, still it contains a vast^umiber of towns ; twojyiadred, it is said. Those best knownare^ituated / onthe rivers, estuaries, and sea ; but the two which have acquired the greatest name and importance are, Corduba, foundeji^X-M^C.eJlus, 3 and the city of the Gaditanians. 4 The latter for its naval importance, and its alliance with the Romans ; and the former on account of its fertility and extent, a considerable portion of the Guadalquiver flowing by it ; in addition to this it has been from its com- mencement inhabited by picked men, whether natives or Ro- mans ; and it was the first colony planted by the Romans in these parts. After this city and that of the Gaditanians, Hispalis 5 is the most noted. Thisalso is a Roman colony. Commerce is still 1 Anas. 2 Baetis. 3 Cordova, situated on the Guadalquiver in Andalusia. We do not know~"wn"ether it were founded by the Marcellus who was praetor in Thither Iberia, and created consul in the year of Rome 601, or Mar- cellus who joined Pompey's party against Caesar. This city served for the winter quarters of the Jiofflans, who during: summer made war on the inhabitants"of the westein and nor thern^^rts ~of_S p aim It was the na- trveTplace of the two Senecas and Lucan, and the chief emporium of Ibejria. We may f5rm some idea "oftEe amount "of its popukticm from the number of those who perished when taken by Csesar, as narrated by Hirtius, Spanish War, 34. But the period in which Cordova's glory was at its zenith was during the empire of the Moors, in the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries, when it numbered 300,000 inhabitants. 4 Cadijs. 5 Seville. This city was surnamed Julia Romulensis. It was founded by_Cjesar, and regarded as the second city of the province, alth~ougn7~as we see, in the time of Strabo it was only third-rate.