Task 2- Biographies

1. Biographies
Add something else as title: Ancient Era
in the Iberian Peninsula
Gema Ortiz de la Guía
2BachE

2. Gargoris
It was a mythological king of Conios, a
pre-Roman town in the Iberian
Peninsula, a Tartessos’ town. According
to the legend, Gargoris was the
inventor of apiculture and he had
incestuous relationships with his
daughter. When she became pregnant,
as he was embarrassed, he ordered to
lock her, and he also ordered to kill the
baby, Habis.

3. Tartessos’ location

4. Habis
He was the son of Gargoris and one of his daughters.
He was a mythical Tartessos’ king. He was abandoned
at birth on a hill full of beasts. The beasts breastfed
and protected him. When Gargoris knew that Habis
had not died, he ordered to capture and kill him.
They tried to kill him in many ways, like being
devoured by hungry dogs and pigs or throwing him to
the sea. He was bred by a hind.

5. When Habis grew up, he became a
skilful man and he was captured by
some peasants, but the king recognized
him as his grandson, because he had
overcome many dangers and problems,
and he admired him. So, Gargoris
forgave Habis and this one became the
king.
Habis was the inventor of plow,
agriculture and Tartessos’ law. He
divided Tartessos society into seven
classes as well.

6. Arganthonios
Habis’ son (670 BC – 550BC)
and the last Tartessian king.
He was the only king from
which we have historical
references. His name,
Arganthonios, means “Silver
man”.

7. He appeared in the Greek
sources related with the mineral
wealth of his kingdom (brass and
silver). Arganthonios helped the
Phocaeans finance the
fortification of their city,
Phocaea, (a Greek city in Asia
Minor, now located in Turkey)
against the Persian threat. He
sent 1,500 kg of silver to his
allies. But he didn´t get the
establishment of Phocaean
colonies in his kingdom.

8. According to the Greek historian
Herodotus, King Arganthonios ruled
Tartessos for 80 years (from about
625 BC to 545 BC) and lived until 120
years old. This idea of great age and
length of his reign may result from a
succession of kings using the same
name or title. This confirms the idea
that he enjoyed longevity and he
had a long reign. Fifteen years after
his dead, Tartessos suffered a great
decline
It's probable that Arganthonios died
from natural death, because there
isn’t any document about his death.

9. Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca (275- 228 BC)
was Carthaginian general,
statesman and leader of the
Barcid family. He was born in
Carthage, first of the strong
Barcid clan which dominated
the Carthaginian politics during
the second part of the 3rd
century BC.

10. In 247 BC, when he was 33
years old, he led the
Carthaginian troops in
Sicily during the First Punic
War against Rome.
From his bases in Sicily,
Corsica and Sardinia, he
launched attacks against
the Italian coasts, until he
was defeated in the naval
battle of Egatas Islands
(241 BC). As a result of
this defeat, he lost Sicily
and retired to Africa.

11. In Africa the mercenaries revolted because there weren't resources to pay
them (Mercenary War). In this war 10, 000 mercenaries were killed and
4,000 taken captive; Hamilcar either dismissed the captives or enrolled
them in his own army. But he changed his policy of clemency when the
rebel leaders inveigled the mercenaries to mutilate cruelly their
Carthaginian prisoners cruelly (241-238 BC).
Hamilcar Barca played an important role in the suffocation of the mercenary
rebellion, became very popular and was appointed commander in chief of
the army.

12. After the defeat in the 1st Punic
War and the loss of Sardinia, Sicily
and Corsica, Carthage’s weakness
was used by the towns of Libya
and the Iberian Peninsula to get
their liberty. In 237 BC Hamilcar
decided to intervene and he
recovered territories in the Iberian
Peninsula, with the idea of
attacking Rome again, taking
advantage of the abundant
wealth of the Peninsula as the
base of their counteroffensive.

13. Accompanied by his son
Hannibal and his son-in-law
Hasdrubal, Hamilcar landed in
Gades (the only city that the
Carthaginians had in the
Iberian Peninsula) and
controlled the Guadalquivir
valley fighting against the
Tartessians, Iberians and Celts.
He conquered Levant and
founded Akra Leuke (present
Alicante). Hannibal, Hamilcar´s son

14. He died fighting against the Oretani during the siege of Helike
(Elche, Elche de la Sierra or Belchite) in the winter of 229/228
BC. Hasdrubal and Hannibal continued his work.

15. Sources
Gargoris
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A1rgoris
Habis:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habis
Arganthonios
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arganthonios
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argantonio
Hamilcar Barca
http://biography.yourdictionary.com/hamilcar-barca
http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/a/amilcar.htm
Photos
http://elartedelahistoria.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/los-reyes-fabulosos-de-espana-de-tubal-a-habis-o-habidis/
http://ferbuscasusitio.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/leyenda-de-gargoris-y-habis-reyes.html
http://www.nndb.com/people/943/000101640/