Contestani
Encyclopedia
The Contestani were an ancient Iberian
(Pre-Roman
) people of the Iberian peninsula
(the Roman Hispania
). They are believed to have spoken the Iberian language
.
They lived in a region located SW of the Tarraconensis, east of the territory of the Bastetani
, between the city of Urci, located NE of the Baetica and river Sucro, today known as Xúquer. Nowadays this would correspond to a section of the Albacete Province, The eastern part of the Region of Murcia
and the southern part of the Land of Valencia.
Cartago Nova was within its territory. Other important towns were Setabi (Xàtiva
), Lucenti or Lucentum
(L'Albufereta in Alacant), Alonis (La Vila Joiosa
), Ilici (Elx
), Menlaria, Valentia and Iaspis. Iberian coins were minted at Sebati. There is an important Contestani archaeological site at Tolmo de Minateda hill near Hellín
.
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
(Pre-Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
) people of the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
(the Roman Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
). They are believed to have spoken the Iberian language
Iberian language
The Iberian language was the language of a people identified by Greek and Roman sources who lived in the eastern and southeastern regions of the Iberian peninsula. The ancient Iberians can be identified as a rather nebulous local culture between the 7th and 1st century BC...
.
They lived in a region located SW of the Tarraconensis, east of the territory of the Bastetani
Bastetani
The Bastetani or Bastuli were an ancient Iberian people of the Iberian peninsula . They are believed to have spoken the Iberian language....
, between the city of Urci, located NE of the Baetica and river Sucro, today known as Xúquer. Nowadays this would correspond to a section of the Albacete Province, The eastern part of the Region of Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
and the southern part of the Land of Valencia.
Cartago Nova was within its territory. Other important towns were Setabi (Xàtiva
Xàtiva
Xàtiva is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right bank of the river Albaida and at the junction of the Valencia–Murcia and Valencia Albacete railways....
), Lucenti or Lucentum
Lucentum
Lucentum is the name of the Roman predecessor of the city of Alicante, Spain. Particularly, it refers to the archaeological site in which the remains of this ancient settlement lie, at a place known as El Tossal de Manises, in the neighborhood of Albufereta.-Ancient History:Before the arrival of...
(L'Albufereta in Alacant), Alonis (La Vila Joiosa
La Vila Joiosa
Villajoyosa or La Vila Joiosa is a coastal town and municipality in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea....
), Ilici (Elx
Elx
Elche or Elx is a city located in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó, in the Alicante province which, in turn, is a part of the Valencian Community, Spain...
), Menlaria, Valentia and Iaspis. Iberian coins were minted at Sebati. There is an important Contestani archaeological site at Tolmo de Minateda hill near Hellín
Hellín
Hellín is a town and municipality located in the south of the province of Albacete, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. , it has a population of 31,109....
.
See also
- LucentumLucentumLucentum is the name of the Roman predecessor of the city of Alicante, Spain. Particularly, it refers to the archaeological site in which the remains of this ancient settlement lie, at a place known as El Tossal de Manises, in the neighborhood of Albufereta.-Ancient History:Before the arrival of...
- Lady of Elche
- Treasure of VillenaTreasure of VillenaThe Treasure of Villena is one of the greatest hoard finds of gold of the European Bronze Age. It comprises 59 objects made of gold, silver, iron and amber with a total weight of almost 10 kilos, 9 of them of 23.5 carat gold...
- Tolmo de Minateda
- Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian PeninsulaPre-Roman peoples of the Iberian PeninsulaThis is a list of the Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian peninsula .-Non-Indo-European:*Aquitanians**Aquitani**Autrigones - some consider them Celtic .**Caristii - some consider them Celtic ....