VIRTUAL TANGIER: Visions of the City


 
c. 22 AD: STRABO (excerpt from Geography, XVII)
   Here dwell a people called by the Greeks Maurusii, and by the Romans and the natives Mauretanii, a populous and flourishing African nation, situated opposite to Spain, on the other side of the strait, at the Pillars of Hercules, which we have frequently mentioned before. On proceeding beyond the strait at the Pillars, with Africa on the left hand, we come to a mountain which the Greeks call Atlas, and the barbarians Dyris. Thence projects into the sea a point formed by the foot of the mountain towards the west of Mauretania, and called the Coteis [modern Cape Spartel]. Near it is a small town, a little above the sea, which the barbarians call "Trinx"; Artemidorus, "Lynx"; and Eratosthenes, "Lixus" [modern Tangier]. 
   On sailing into the interior [Mediterranean] sea, from Lynx, there are Zelis [modern Arcila], a city, and Tingis [modern Tangier], then the monuments of the Seven Brothers and the mountain lying below, of the name of Abyle [modern Jebel-el-Mina, near Ceuta], abounding with wild animals and trees of a great size. They say that the length of the strait at the pillars is 120 stadia, and the least breadth at Elephas [Gibraltar] 60 stadia.
     Writers in general are agreed that Mauretania is a fertile country… which furnishes the Romans with tables formed of one piece of wood, of the largest dimensions, and most beautifully variegated. The rivers are said to contain crocodiles and other kinds of animals similar to those in the Nile... In a certain river leeches are bred seven cubits in length, with gills, pierced through with holes, through which they respire. This country is also said to produce a vine, the girth of which two men can scarcely compass, and bearing bunches of grapes of about a cubit in size. All plants and pot-herbs are tall… the stalks of the parsnip, fennel, and the artichoke are twelve cubits in height, and four palms in thickness. The country is the fruitful nurse of large serpents, elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, and similar animals; of lions also and panthers. It produces weasels equal in size and similar to cats, except that their noses are more prominent, and multitudes of apes, of which Poseidonius relates that when he was sailing from Gades to Italy, and approached the coast of Africa, he saw a forest low upon the sea-shore full of these animals, some on the trees, others on the ground, and some giving suck to their young. He was amused also with seeing some with large dugs, some bald, others with ruptures and exhibiting to view various effects of disease. 
   Although the Mauretanii inhabit a country, the greatest part of which is very fertile, yet the people in general continue even to this time to live like nomads. They bestow care to improve their looks by plaiting their hair, trimming their beards, by wearing golden ornaments, cleaning their teeth, and paring their nails; and you would rarely see them touch one another as they walk, lest they should disturb the arrangement of their hair. They fight for the most part on horseback, with a javelin; and ride on the bareback of the horse, with bridles made of rushes. They have also swords. The foot soldiers present against the enemy, as shields, the skins of elephants. They wear the skins of lions, panthers, and bears, and sleep in them. These tribes… ride horses which are small, but spirited and tractable, so as to be guided by a switch. They have collars made of cotton or of hair, from which hangs a leading-rein. Some follow, like dogs, without being led. They have a small shield of leather, and small lances with broad heads. Their tunics are loose, with wide borders; their cloak is a skin, as I have said before, which serves also as a breastplate.    Some say that the Mauretanii are Indians, who accompanied Hercules hither. 
    Somewhere there, also, are copper mines; and a spring of asphalt; scorpions of enormous size, both with and without wings, are said to be found there, as well as tarantulas, remarkable for their size and numbers. Lizards also are mentioned of two cubits in length. At the base of the mountains precious stones are said to be found. In the plains are found great quantities of oyster and mussel shells. There is also a tree called melilotus, from which a wine is made. Some have two harvests, one in the spring, the other in the summer. They do not sow in the spring, but bush-harrow the ground with bundles of the paliurus, and find the seed-grain sufficient which falls from the sheaves during harvest to produce the summer crop.

You can view ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATIONS by holding your MOUSE CURSOR over the little DOWN ARROWS in the translated web page.
 
Source:
Strabo, The Geography of Strabo: Literally Translated, with Notes
trans. H. C. Hamilton, esq., & W. Falconer (1854-1857)
Scanned modernized and by: J. S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton.

This text is part of the Internet Ancient History Sourcebook.
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