Misc. Subjects CXXVII. Vol. FI. No. 89. 



RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CITY OF SAGUNT IN SPAIN. 



In the South of Spain, between Valencia and 

 Barcellona, is situated the city of Murviedro, 

 where there are the ruins of ancient Sa- 

 gunt, whose remains we behold in Fig. I. 

 and II. of this table. 



The city of Sagunt is famous for the 

 Perseverance beyond all example with which 

 the inhabitants, the allies to the Romans, 

 defended themselves against the Carthagi- 

 nians under the conduct of Hannibal after 

 the first war with the above mentioned na- 

 tion. The Carthaginians after a siege of 

 eight months having at length taken the city 

 by assault, and the rapacious soldiers being 

 permitted by Hannibal to plunder it tho- 

 roughly he was astonished at finding not- 

 hing but destruction and ruins. The in- 

 habitants of Sagunt had rather die than 

 survive the fall of their liberty; those, 

 that had not fallen gloriously in figthing, 



locked themselves up with their relations 

 in the houses which were set on fire, thus 

 delivering themselves as free citizens to the 

 flames with their precious Effects. The Romans 

 vindicated the Saguntines in the second 

 war with the Carthaginians by expelling 

 them from amidst the ruins of the demo- 

 lished city, which they rebuilt more mag- 

 nificently than before, and yet Sagunt , a 

 second time restored to all its splendour, 

 was again destroyed by the Barbarians da- 

 ring their invasion in the fifth century, the 

 only evidences of its former grandeur being 

 the remains, particularly those of the thea- 

 tre, part of which we behold in Fig I. in 

 the fore - ground. Under the succeding do- 

 minion of the Goths Sagunt wasj rebuilt 

 once more but with less beauty. The re- 

 mains of that time are probably those of 

 the citadel. (Fig, IL) 



