The Forgotten City: A Peek into Ancient Empúries

Empúries, a city founded by Greeks from Phocaea in 575 BC, is located in Catalonia, Spain. Originally founded on a small island at the mouth of the river Fluvià, the city came to be known as the Palaiapolis when, towards 550 BC, the inhabitants moved to the mainland, creating the Neapolis, the 'new city'.

After the conquest of Phocaea by the Persian king Cyrus II in 530 BC, the new city's population increased considerably through the influx of refugees. In the face of strong pressure from Carthage, the city managed to retain its independent Greek character. Political and commercial agreements were concluded with the indigenous population long settled in the nearby city of Indika. Situated as it was on the coastal commercial route between Greek Massalia (Marseille) and Tartessos in the far south of Hispania, the city developed into a large economic and commercial centre as well as being the largest Greek colony in the Iberian Peninsula.

During the Punic Wars, Empúries allied itself with Rome, and Publius Cornelius Scipio initiated the conquest of Hispania from the city in 218 BC by sending his troops there. After the Roman conquest, Empúries remained an independent city-state, but eventually declined and was abandoned. Today, the ruins of Empúries are a major archaeological site, offering insights into the history of the Mediterranean world. Visitors can explore remains from the Hellenistic period, Roman period, and more, including buildings, temples, and a possible necropolis.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons