"Are we at Cordova?" says a modern writer. "The whole reign of the
Omniad Caliphs passes, in mental review, before us. Once the seat of
Arabian art, gallantry, and magnificence, the southern kingdom of Spain
was rich and flourishing. Agriculture was respected; the fine arts
cultivated; gardens were formed; roads executed; palaces erected; and
physics, geometry, and astronomy, advanced. The inhabitants were active
and industrious; accomplishments were held in esteem; and the whole
state of society formed a striking contrast to that of every other in
Europe."
It was situated in Hispanic Boetica, having been built by Marcellus. It
was the native place of both the Senecas, and Lucan. Indeed, it
produced, in ancient times, so many celebrated characters, that it was
styled the "mother of men of genius." Its laws were written in verse;
and its academy was partly distinguished for its cultivation of the
Greek language, as well as for rhetoric and philosophy. It became
celebrated, also, under the Moors.
Of its ancient grandeur, however, Cordova has preserved nothing but a
vast inclosure, filled with houses, half in ruins. Its long, narrow, and
ill-paved streets are almost deserted; most of the houses are
uninhabited; and the multitude of churches and convents which it
contains, are besieged by a crowd of vagabonds, covered with rags. The
ancient palace of the Moors has been converted into stables, in which,
till within these few years, one hundred Andalusian horses were usually
kept. Their genealogy was carefully preserved; and the name and age of
each written over the stall in which he stood. In the place appropriated
to bathing, is part of a Cufic inscription.
Cordova was called at first Corduba, and afterwards Colonia Patricia, as
appears from inscriptions on the numerous medals which have been
discovered in this city and neighbourhood.
From the Romans it passed successively under the dominion of the Goths
and Arabs; and, while the latter swayed the sceptre of Spain, Cordova
became pre-eminently distinguished, as we have just stated, as the seat
of arts, sciences, and literature.
About ten miles from this place is a small town, called by the ancients
Obubea[195]; and we mention it here merely because it reminds us that
Julius Cæsar came thither to stop the progress of Pompey's sons, who had
a little before entered Spain in twenty-seven days[196].