The Bipolar City. The construction of the image of Cadiz in 16th century historiography through Classical Sources

Abstract

The city of Cadiz has been given special treatment in Greek and Latin sources, owing to its relationship to the far‐flung corners of the world, the Ocean and mythical places such as Erythia and Tartessos. This resulted in a multiplicity of names, each relating to a feature, either real or imaginary, that Classical antiquity sought to systematize in different ways. In this article, we look into the creative use that local and national historiography has made of such multiplicity, in order to reconcile the ancient prestige of the city with the negative connotations conferred upon it by its status of foreign mercantile enclave.