Tinjis
Encyclopedia
Tinjis was in Berber
and Greek Mythology
the wife of Antaeus
, son of Poseidon
and Gaia
.
The historian and archaeologist Mustapha Ouachi noticed that the city Tangier is geographically related to its myth. Because Tangier lies off the coast
which means the sea
and the earth
, and that is associated with the mother and father of her first husband (Antaios). Because the mother of Antaios Gaia was the goddess of the earth whereas the father of Antaios was Poseidon who was the god of the sea, according to the Berber legend. In addition, Herodotus
considered Poseidon as a Libyan
(Berber) god that has been adopted by the Greeks.
The Berbers believed, according to Plutarch
, that Heracles
consorted with Tinga after the death of Antaios (Her husband) and gave birth to Sophox. According to their myth, Sophox
has built the city "Tangier" (which was known as Tingis in the ancient sources) and named it after his mother.
In fact, Tangier is believed to have been built by the Phoenicia
ns before this story. But Tangier seemed to have been an important city in an early short lived kingdom
which is known as Mauretania
that has been founded by the king Syphax
who has a similar name to the mythical king and founder of Tangier: Sophox
.
Tingis is also the name of a Moroccan American magazine.
Berber mythology
The traditional Berber mythology is the ancient and native set of beliefs and deities developed by the Berber people in their historical land of North Africa...
and Greek Mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
the wife of Antaeus
Antaeus
Antaeus in Greek and Berber mythology was a half-giant, the son of Poseidon and Gaia, whose wife was Tinjis. Antaeus had a daughter named Alceis or Barce.-Mythology:...
, son of Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
and Gaia
Gaia (mythology)
Gaia was the primordial Earth-goddess in ancient Greek religion. Gaia was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods and Titans were descended from her union with Uranus , the sea-gods from her union with Pontus , the Giants from her mating with Tartarus and mortal creatures were sprung or born...
.
The historian and archaeologist Mustapha Ouachi noticed that the city Tangier is geographically related to its myth. Because Tangier lies off the coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
which means the sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
and the earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, and that is associated with the mother and father of her first husband (Antaios). Because the mother of Antaios Gaia was the goddess of the earth whereas the father of Antaios was Poseidon who was the god of the sea, according to the Berber legend. In addition, Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
considered Poseidon as a Libyan
Ancient Libya
The Latin name Libya referred to the region west of the Nile Valley, generally corresponding to modern Northwest Africa. Climate changes affected the locations of the settlements....
(Berber) god that has been adopted by the Greeks.
The Berbers believed, according to Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
, that Heracles
Heracles
Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
consorted with Tinga after the death of Antaios (Her husband) and gave birth to Sophox. According to their myth, Sophox
Sufax
Sufax was a hero from the Berber and Greek mythologies....
has built the city "Tangier" (which was known as Tingis in the ancient sources) and named it after his mother.
In fact, Tangier is believed to have been built by the Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
ns before this story. But Tangier seemed to have been an important city in an early short lived kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
which is known as Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
that has been founded by the king Syphax
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
who has a similar name to the mythical king and founder of Tangier: Sophox
Sufax
Sufax was a hero from the Berber and Greek mythologies....
.
Tingis is also the name of a Moroccan American magazine.