Tingis
Tingis, known as Tangier today, is an ancient coastal city located in western Mauretania (modern-day Morocco) near the Straits of Gibraltar. Its foundation is attributed to Greek mythology, specifically to Antaeus, the son of Poseidon and Gaia. The city has historical significance from the fifth century BC, showing connections with Carthaginian traders from southern Spain, and it is believed to have hosted Phoenician or Carthaginian settlements. Tingis came under Roman control, experiencing a period of autonomy and issuing coins with Neo-Punic inscriptions before being formally granted Roman citizenship, likely by Octavian. During the Roman Empire, it served as a naval station and was eventually made the capital of the province of Mauretania Tingitana under Emperor Claudius. The city continued to develop and became the capital of a smaller province in the later empire until the Vandals invaded North Africa. Archaeological findings, including funerary inscriptions and remains of a Christian community, suggest that Tingis had a thriving population and cultural life, marked by significant structures such as baths and a basilica. The remnants of its ancient walls and cemeteries highlight the city’s historical importance and rich heritage.
Subject Terms
Tingis
Tingi, earlier Tinx (Tangier)
A coastal city of western Mauretania (Morocco), beside the Straits of Gibraltar, Tingis was situated at the end of a broad bay which afforded a moderate degree of shelter. According to Greek mythology, it was founded by Antaeus, the son of Poseidon and Gaia (Earth). From the fifth century BC onward the populations of the area—as their cemeteries indicate—were in close touch with the Carthaginian traders of southern Spain; and it has been suggested that Tingis itself may have received a Phoenician or Carthaginian settlement.
After passing into Roman hands it was seized by Quintus Sertorius (in rebellion against the central government) in 81. At this period, if not earlier, the town was issuing coins with Neo-Punic (Carthaginian) inscriptions, apparently as an autonomous community, although it no doubt owed loose allegiance to the kings of western Mauretania. One of these monarchs, Bogud—after invading Spain—lost his dominions c 38 to Bocchus II (or III), formerly ruler of the eastern part of the country; whereupon Octavian (the future Augustus) confirmed Bocchus' seizure, but granted Tingis Roman citizenship as a municipium. In this capacity it issued a number of coins (imperfectly preserved and recorded) with the names of local officials and the heads of Baal and a goddess, as well as others bearing the portraits of Augustus and Agrippa, and later (under Tiberius or Gaius) those of Nero Caesar and Drusus Caesar, the sons of Germanicus. Another coin of one of these reigns, claiming the title of colonia, is unconfirmed, and its acquisition of this rank is usually attributed to Claudius, who made Tingis the capital of his new province of Mauretania Tingitana (before AD 44).
The place provided a useful naval station, and was connected by military roads with Sala (Chella) and Volubilis (Ksar Pharaoun)—which later replaced Tingis as the provincial capital. During the later empire, however, it became the capital of the much smaller province of Tingitana or Tingitania—attached to the administrative diocese of the Spains—until North Africa was overrun by the Vandals (429). Funerary inscriptions bear witness to a Christian community from the fourth or fifth century onward, and there is evidence of a bishopric in the sixth. The limits of the ancient town are marked out by the cemeteries surrounding its walls, and traces of baths and of a Christian basilica have been noted. Remains of farming estates and brick factories have come to light in the neighborhood.