Cessetani facts for kids
The Cessetani were an ancient people who lived in the Iberian peninsula (which is now Spain and Portugal) a very long time ago, before the Romans arrived. They were part of a larger group called the Iberians. People believe they spoke the Iberian language. Their land stretched along the coast, from a place called Coll de Balaguer to the Garraf Massif, and was bordered on the west by the Prades Mountains.
The Cessetani's Story
One of the most important cities for the Cessetani was Tarraco, which is known today as Tarragona. Even though you can't see many remains of the Cessetani civilization itself, you can visit amazing Roman ruins in Tarragona. These include a Roman theater, a stadium, and parts of a Roman city wall. The Roman ruins of Tarraco are so important that they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Romans took control of Tarraco in 218 BC. This happened after the Battle of Cissa, where a Roman general named Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio won against the Carthaginians. This battle was at the very beginning of the Second Punic War, a huge conflict between Rome and Carthage.
Cessetani Culture and Coins
The Cessetani were skilled enough to make their own coins. Most of these coins had the name of one of their main cities, kese, written on them. However, a few coins had a special inscription: kesesken. This was written in the northeastern Iberian script. Experts believe this word meant "from the Cessetani" or "from those of kese", showing who they were.
See also
- Iberians
- Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula
