Contestani

Origins

The Contestani occupied the coast and hinterland of south-east Spain, roughly the modern provinces of Alicante and parts of Murcia and Valencia, from the 5th century BCE. They grew out of earlier Iberian communities in close contact with Phoenician and Greek traders.

Rule and society

Their towns, such as Ilici (La Alcudia, Elche), La Serreta near Alcoy and Lucentum, were centres of a refined Iberian culture. The stone bust of the Lady of Elche, carved around the 4th century BCE, comes from their territory. They wrote their Iberian language in a Greek-derived alphabet, recorded on lead tablets, and traded olive oil, wine and esparto.

Decline and legacy

After Carthaginian control under Barcid Iberia, the region passed to Rome when Scipio captured Carthago Nova in 209 BCE, and was pacified by 197 BCE. Ilici became a Roman colony, and the Contestani merged into Hispania Citerior.