Bocchoris (city) facts for kids

Bocchoris was an ancient city located in northern Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It was one of the oldest settlements on Majorca, dating back to before the Roman Empire. Bocchoris had a special relationship with ancient Rome, acting as a "federated city." This means it had an agreement with Rome, as recorded by the famous Roman writer Pliny the Elder.

Where Was Bocchoris?

Bocchoris was situated near the modern town of Port de Pollença. It lay on a hill to the right of the road from Port de Pollença to Pollença, close to the Boquer Valley.

This ancient city dates back to around 1400 BC. Many signs of its past still remain today. You can see a long part of the Roman town wall. Some of its old entrance gates are also visible in what is now flat farmland. The areas around these ruins have not yet been fully explored by archaeologists.

Bocchoris and Ancient Rome

A tabula patronatus from Bocchorus (AD 6).

The city of Bocchoris was very special for Majorca. We know it was a federated city because of two important bronze tablets. These tablets are called tabulae patronatus. They are like official records carved in bronze.

The Roman writer Pliny the Elder also mentioned Bocchoris. In his book Natural History, written in the 1st century BC, he listed Bocchoris as a federated city. He wrote that Majorca had several towns. Some had Roman citizen rights, some had Latin rights, and Bocchoris was a federated town.

Two bronze inscriptions were found near the ruins of Bocchoris. One was discovered in 1951 in the Bay of Pollença. It dates back to 10 BC. This inscription mainly stated that Bocchoris chose Marcus Crassus as its patron. Marcus Crassus was a Roman consul in 14 BC. A patron was like a powerful protector or supporter for the city in Rome.

The other bronze tablet was found much earlier, in 1765. This inscription dates to 6 AD. It says that the leaders and people of Bocchoris chose Roman Senator Marcus Atilius Vernus as their patron. This shows how Bocchoris connected with important Roman figures.

What Does the Name Bocchoris Mean?

We don't know much about where the name Bocchoris came from. It's also unclear if the city's name was Bocchor, Bocchoris, or Bocchorum. However, the name is still used today in its Catalan form, Boquer. This name refers to the area around the current Boquer valley in Port de Pollença.

See also

In Spanish: Bocchoris para niños