Iberians facts for kids

The famous bust of the "Lady of Elche", probably a priestess.

"Warrior of Moixent" Iberian (Edetan) ex-voto statuette, 2nd to 4th centuries BC, found in Edeta.

The Iberians were a set of people that Greek and Roman sources (among others, Hecataeus of Miletus, Avienus, Herodotus and Strabo) identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula, at least from the 6th century BC. The Roman sources also use the term Hispani to refer to the Iberians.

This pre-Indo-European cultural group spoke the Iberian language from the 7th to the 1st century BC. Other peoples possibly related to the Iberians are the Vascones and the Aquitani. The rest of the peninsula, in the northern, central, and northwestern areas, was inhabited by Celts or Celtiberians groups and the possibly Pre-Celtic or Proto-Celtic Indo-European Lusitanians, Vettones, and the Turdetani.

Due to their military qualities, as of the 5th century BC Iberian soldiers were frequently deployed in battles in Italy, Greece and especially on Sicily.

Images for kids

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  Ancient silver vessel from the Tivissa Treasure, c. 500 BC. Archaeology Museum of Catalonia

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  Iberian relief, Mausoleum of Pozo Moro, 6th century BC, showing Hittite influence

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  Horseman from Iberian pottery, Alicante

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  Lord of the Horses, Villaricos (Almeria), Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya, Barcelona

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  Iberian falcatas

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  Paleohispanic languages according to inscriptions (except Aquitanian – according to anthroponyms and theonyms used in Latin inscriptions)

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  Iberian scripts in the context of paleohispanic scripts

See also

In Spanish: Iberos para niños