15.1. - HERCULES, THE LEGENDARY FOUNDER OF SEVILLE

When we think of legendary heroes from antiquity, figures like Hercules immediately come to mind. However, what many may not know is that this famous demigod also holds a prominent place in the history of the city of Seville. In this entry, we will explore the intriguing connection between Hercules and the founding of Seville.

Around 1000 B.C., intrepid Phoenician sailors arrived on the shores of what we now know as Spain. Navigating the Mediterranean Sea and learning from the civilizations they encountered in North Africa, the Phoenicians eventually founded a colony called Carthage, which means "New City." As they continued to explore, they approached the Strait of Gibraltar, although they initially feared crossing into the unknown Atlantic Ocean.

It was a brave navigator named Melkart who defied these fears and crossed the strait between the Rock of Gibraltar and the Rock of Calpe, venturing into the Atlantic. Following the coast northward, Melkart eventually reached the mouth of the Guadalquivir River and established a trading post in what is now known as Seville. This early Phoenician settlement was located in areas that today correspond to Plaza del Salvador, Cuesta del Rosario, and Plaza de la Pescadería. If one were to excavate these areas today, fragments of pottery and other remnants of this ancient Phoenician foundation are often discovered.

Melkart not only established the first trading post in Seville, which he called Hispalis (which in Phoenician appears to mean "plain by a river" or marsh), but he also gained a monopoly on the hides and leather from Andalusia. He likely taught the natives, known as Turdetani, to capture and kill the fierce bulls that inhabited the region, even subjecting King Turdetani Gerion to a shift in his primitive religion to the Egyptian faith.

From these events, the legend of Melkart was forged, who would later be known as Herakles and Hercules. The Egyptians and Phoenicians regarded him as a hero, saint, and god for daring to sail into the unknown and bringing a new religion to "savage" peoples. This mythological evolution is comparable to how Spanish explorers in America were considered heroes and saints for bringing Christianity to indigenous peoples.

Over time, poets and playwrights in Greece and Rome wove legends around the life of Hercules, creating myths like the "Twelve Labors of Hercules," symbolizing his feat of opening a passage between Africa and Spain by breaking through mountains, overcoming myths, and fears about the Atlantic Ocean. He was also attributed with the task of cleaning the stables of King Gerion and taming fierce bulls.

In Seville, Hercules is recognized as the city's founder, and his statue stands in prominent locations, including the Alameda de Hércules, named in his honor. The history of Seville is intrinsically linked to the mythological figure of Hercules, and his legacy endures in the identity and culture of this fascinating city.

So, the next time you visit Seville and see the statue of Hercules, remember that this legendary hero, defying the fears of the ocean, left an indelible mark on the history of this beautiful city on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.

"Hercules built me
Julius Caesar surrounded me
with high walls and towers
the holy king conquered me
with Garci Pérez de Vargas"