Philosophical Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Vol. 2

ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF L. ANNAEUS SENECA

CHAPTER I.
On his homeland and parents.

It is an ancient custom to report the life of illustrious men; and it is pleasing to know other things that adhered to those whose talents, writings, or deeds we admire. Therefore, I will speak of Seneca, as far as possible; and I will collect and arrange from him and various writers what pertains to this. It is established that his homeland was Corduba, an old and flourishing colony in Spanish Baetica: and indeed, in those regions, the first one. Strabo states openly: "Among the cities of Spanish Baetica, Corduba has been most increased—the work of Marcellus in glory and power: and likewise the city of Gades. The latter, indeed, because of its navigation and associations with the Romans; the former, however, because of the goodness of the region and its size, with the river Baetis also contributing much to this." (Book III.) He praises, and at the same time shows, the ancient "work of Marcellus." (Book XLIII.) Of whom? The praetor or the consul? For M. Marcellus obtained Spain as praetor, according to Livy, in the year of the city 585, although in peace and leisure, as it seems; and I am therefore the more inclined to believe the colony was led by him, and perhaps the town increased and adorned. For it was not a city entirely newly founded, as even Silius would say, who already named Corduba in the time of Hannibal. To him, therefore, rather than to the consul Marcellus—who was in charge of Spain in the year 601, but the nearer [Hispania Citerior], as is in the Epitome and as one may gather from Appian—I would attribute it; and there, having conducted affairs successfully, he triumphed over the Celtiberi. Therefore, he then had nothing to do with Baetica or our Corduba, which is in Further Spain. Furthermore, Strabo adds: "Select Romans and natives inhabited this Corduba from the beginning; and thus the Romans sent this first colony into those places."