Puellae gaditanae facts for kids
Puellae gaditanae (Latin: 'girls from Gades') was the name that, by extension, the ancient Romans gave to all the female dancers from southern Hispania Baetica, whether or not they were from Gades (Cádiz).
History
The earliest references to the puellae gaditanae are found in Strabo's account of Eudoxus of Cyzicus, who embarked from Cádiz in the 2nd century BC with the aim of circumnavigating Africa, and took young musicians in his crew. It is not known with certainty if they were dancers, singers, instrumentalists or perhaps all at once.
Martial tells us that after the triumphal entry of Quintus Caecilius Metellus into Rome, after the Sertorian War (around 74 BC), his entourage included some Andalusian girls who danced and who attracted attention for their crusmata baetica ("metal castanets"). Elsewhere, Martial highlights that they sang, murmuring, love songs. Other authors state that women from Cadiz cultivated lyric poetry before the Christian era.
In Rome, the dancers from Cadiz were as famous as the Syrian ones. Their presence was obligatory in many sumptuous feasts at Rome.
See also
In Spanish: Puellae gaditanae para niños
