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THE
MYTHICAL CITY
History and mythology are
more closely linked in Cadiz than in any other city in Spain. One of the
'Twelve Labours of Hercules', that is, the separation of Europe from Africa,
was thought to have brought about the setting up of the first settlement
here, at the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, on the shores
of the Straits of Gibraltar and bathed by the waters of both the Atlantic
and the Mediterranean. It was here, the erstwhile domain of Tartessus,
that Phoenician sailors came and established their ancient city, over the
ruins of the one that the people of Tyre had built. The latter had followed
the advice of their oracle and had constructed their city overlooking the
Atlantic between the Pillars of Hercules. They have it the name of Gadir
after Neptune's son. It was founded in the year 1100 B.C. which means that
Cadiz is today the oldest city in the Western World. In the ancient city
of Cadiz the god Melgart was worshipped, and Hannibal and Hamilcar Barca
left behind their mark. The Visigoths built their temples at Vejer and
Alcala de los Gazules, and Julius Caesar planned his empire. During the
8th c, Moorish troops entered the city after defeating Don Rodrigo's army
near the lagoon of La Janda, close to what today is Barbate. Following
its reconquest by Alfonso X 'the Wise', Cadiz, along with Sanlucar de Barrameda
and El Puerto de Santa Maria, played an important part in the discovery
and subsequent colonisation of America. Later, in the 17th and 18th
centuries, it became a fortified town in order to resist the repeated naval
attacks perpetrated by the English. It was during this period that Cadiz
enjoyed its most fruitful economic growth, monopolizing trade with the
Americas and forming bridgehead both culturally and politically with the
New World. Cadiz bravely resisted the Napoleonic invasion from behind
its ancient walls, and
it was here that, in the Church of San Felipe Neri, the very first Spanish
Constitution was signed. Between the years 1810 and 1813 Cadiz became the
capital of occupied Spain. |
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