This city (in Spain) is supposed to have been founded by the
Phoenicians, who give it the name of Hispalis. It was afterwards
colonized by the wounded soldiers of Scipio. It was then called Julia,
and at last, after a variety of corruptions, Sebilla or Sevilla, la
Viega.
The Romans embellished it with many magnificent edifices, but of which
scarcely any vestige now remains.
In regard to the new city, the Gothic kings for some time made it their
residence; but it was taken by storm soon after the victory obtained at
Xeres, over the Gothic king Rodrigo. It at last fell before Ferdinand
III., after a year's siege; and three hundred thousand Moors were
compelled to quit the place; notwithstanding which it became the most
magnificent city in all Spain, a little after the discovery of America;
all the valuable commodities of the West Indies being carried thither.
An old Spanish writer thus speaks of this place:--"Not far from hence
one sees the _ruins of an ancient city_; and of an amphitheatre, great
part of which remains; but many of the great parts lie in such
confusion, as if it had been thrown into disorder by an earthquake. The
people call this place Sevilla la Vieja, or Old Seville; but the learned
take it to be the ancient Italica, the birth-place of the emperor Adrian
and Silius Italicus; there having been found a sufficient number of
ancient medals and inscriptions to justify that opinion; and amongst
others, they found a medal of Tiberius, with the following legend upon
it: DIVI. AVG. MVNIC. ITALIC. PERM. And in the time of Fernando el
Santo, the conqueror of Seville (which was in the year 1248), this place
retained some traces of its ancient name; for it was called Talca. Some
of the ruins appear to have been the remains of a temple, and a bath. In
the spot near which many of these ruins are to be seen, there is a
monastery of St. Isidore; and in the church there is an altar of
alabaster, which can scarce be matched in Europe[301]."