The foundation legend of Gades: inventions, interpretations and developments through the ages

Abstract

This paper contains a study of the tradition of foundation legends concerning the city of Gades (ancient Phoenician colony of Gadir and modern-day Cadiz), from the first ancient testimonies to its reception by historians of subsequent ages. The aim of this study is to show how both the elements established in the original tradition and the way they were understood, developed, or even changed, mirrors the historical and ideological context of each period. This active dialogue of every era with the tale of the origins of a city, which existed and kept a recognizable sense of identity for almost 3,000 years, gives us a privileged insight on how history is made.