Indigetes
Encyclopedia
The Indigetes were an ancient Iberian
(Pre-Roman
) people of the Iberian peninsula
(the Roman Hispania
). They are believed to have spoken the Iberian language
.
They occupied the far north east area of the Iberian Peninsula known as Hispania Tarraconensis
, in the gulf of Empúries
and Rhoda, stretching up into the Pyrenees
though the regions of Empordà
, Selva
and perhaps as far as Gironès
, where the Ausetani
could be found who were related ethnically.
They were divided into four tribes, and the main towns they centered on were: Indika (only mentioned by Stephanus of Byzantium
, still unidentified, but he was possibly referring to Empúries or Ullastret
), Empodrae (Empúries, where there was an extremely important Greek, Phocaea
n and Massaliotan colony, which had their corresponding commercial “emporio”), Rhoda (Roses), Juncaria (La Jonquera
), Cinniana (Cervià
) and Deciana (close to La Jonquera). This land was watered by the Clodianus (Fluvià
), the Sambrocas (Muga
) and the Tichis (Ter). This district in the Golf of Empúrias was known as Juncaris Campus.
The Indigetes minted their own coins which bore the inscription undikesken in northeastern Iberian script
that is interpreted in Iberian language
as a self-reference to the ethnic name of that people: from the Indigetes or from those of undika.
In 218 BC
they were conquered by Rome
. In 195 BC
they rebelled; the consul
Marcus Porcius Cato
quashed the rebellion.
The main archaeological sites for the Indigetes are in Ullastret
(Baix Empordà
), Castell de la Fosca
(Palamós
, Baix Empordà) and Puig Castellet (Lloret de Mar
, Selva).
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 occupied the far north east area of the Iberian Peninsula known as Hispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis
Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. It encompassed much of the Mediterranean coast of Spain along with the central plateau. Southern Spain, the region now called Andalusia, was the province of Hispania Baetica...
, in the gulf of Empúries
Empúries
Empúries , formerly known by its Spanish name Ampurias , was a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain. It was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον...
and Rhoda, stretching up into the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
though the regions of Empordà
Empordà
Empordà is a historical region of Catalonia divided since 1936 into two comarques, Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà....
, Selva
Selva
Selva is a coastal comarca in Catalonia, Spain, located between the mountain range known as the Serralada Transversal or Puigsacalm and the Costa Brava . Unusually, it is divided between the provinces of Girona and Barcelona, with Fogars de la Selva being part of Barcelona province, and all other...
and perhaps as far as Gironès
Gironès
Gironès is a comarca in eastern Catalonia, Spain, bordering Selva, Baix Empordà, Alt Empordà, Pla de l'Estany and Garrotxa. , more than half of the comarca's 175,148 inhabitants live in the capital, Girona, which is also the capital of the province of Girona.-Municipalities:Populations are as of...
, where the Ausetani
Ausetani
The Ausetani were an ancient Iberian people of the Iberian peninsula . They are believed to be of Iberian language...
could be found who were related ethnically.
They were divided into four tribes, and the main towns they centered on were: Indika (only mentioned by Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephen of Byzantium, also known as Stephanus Byzantinus , was the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled Ethnica...
, still unidentified, but he was possibly referring to Empúries or Ullastret
Ullastret
Ullastret is a small historic village on the Bay of Emporda located some 5 km northeast of La Bisbal d'Empordà.Formerly a 3 km2 lake, known as Llac d'Ullastret or Estany d'Ullastret existed close to this town, but it was desiccated in the 19th century.It is home to ancient Iberian...
), Empodrae (Empúries, where there was an extremely important Greek, Phocaea
Phocaea
Phocaea, or Phokaia, was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. Greek colonists from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia in 600 BC, Emporion in 575 BC and Elea in 540 BC.-Geography:Phocaea was the northernmost...
n and Massaliotan colony, which had their corresponding commercial “emporio”), Rhoda (Roses), Juncaria (La Jonquera
La Jonquera
La Jonquera is a municipality in the comarca of l'Alt Empordà, in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated just by the border with France, with the municipalty of Le Perthus.-History:...
), Cinniana (Cervià
Cervia
Cervia is a town and comune in the province of Ravenna , central Italy.-History:Originally called Ficocle, it was probably of Greek origin and was located midway from current Cervia and Ravenna...
) and Deciana (close to La Jonquera). This land was watered by the Clodianus (Fluvià
Fluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
), the Sambrocas (Muga
Muga
The Muga is a river in Catalonia which rises in the Alberes mountains of the eastern Pyrenees and enters the sea at the Gulf of Roses.The river is 58 km long with its source below the summit of Montnegre...
) and the Tichis (Ter). This district in the Golf of Empúrias was known as Juncaris Campus.
The Indigetes minted their own coins which bore the inscription undikesken in northeastern Iberian script
Northeastern Iberian script
The northeastern Iberian script is also known as Levantine Iberian or Iberian, because it is the Iberian script that was most frequently used, and was the main means of written expression of the Iberian language. The language is also expressed by the southeastern Iberian script and by the...
that is interpreted in 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...
as a self-reference to the ethnic name of that people: from the Indigetes or from those of undika.
In 218 BC
218 BC
Year 218 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Scipio and Longus...
they were conquered by Rome
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. In 195 BC
195 BC
Year 195 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Flaccus and Cato...
they rebelled; the consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
Marcus Porcius Cato
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
quashed the rebellion.
The main archaeological sites for the Indigetes are in Ullastret
Ullastret
Ullastret is a small historic village on the Bay of Emporda located some 5 km northeast of La Bisbal d'Empordà.Formerly a 3 km2 lake, known as Llac d'Ullastret or Estany d'Ullastret existed close to this town, but it was desiccated in the 19th century.It is home to ancient Iberian...
(Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of the two into which Empordà was divided in the comarcal division of 1936. It is popularly known as L'Empordanet .- Geography :...
), Castell de la Fosca
Castell de la Fosca
Castell de la Fosca or Punta del Castell is an ancient Iberian settlement or oppidum sited on a rocky promontory at the north end of the beach called Platja de Castell, about 2 km ENE of Palamós , on the Costa Brava....
(Palamós
Palamós
Palamós is a town and municipality in the Mediterranean Costa Brava, located in the comarca of Baix Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Baix Empordà) and Puig Castellet (Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia and one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Costa Brava. It is 40 kilometres from Girona and 75 kilometres from Barcelona and therefore easily accessible...
, Selva).