The Cynetes or Conii were a people living in today's Algarve and southern Alentejo regions of southern Portugal before the 6th century BCE (in what was to become the southern part of the Roman province of Lusitania).

Origin

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Whether they were Celts, proto-Celts or pre-Celtic Iberians has not been established. A fourth possibility is that they represented a pre-Celtic population who had adopted many elements of Celtic culture (namely from the Celtici of Alentejo), with normal expectations of some intermarriage, and cultural influences from powerful Tartessos to the east of them (in the region Romans would call Hispania Bætica).

Inscriptions

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Inscriptions in the Tartessian language have been found in the area, in a variety often referred to as Southwest script. The name Conii, found in Strabo, seems to have been identical with the Cynesii, who were mentioned by Herodotus as the westernmost dwellers of Europe and distinguished by him from the CeltsHerodotus writes "now the Celtae dwell beyond the pillars of Hercules, being neighbours of the Cynesii, who are the westernmost of all nations inhabiting Europe" (Herodotus, II, 33). In another reference noting the Celts again in the extreme west, he refers to their neighbors the Cynetes: "...the Celts, who, save only the Cynetes, are the most westerly dwellers in Europe." (IV, 49)..

Main city

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The main city of the country of the Conii was Conistorgis, according to Strabo, who considered the region Celtic"In the country of the Celti, Conistorgis is the best known city" (Strabo, III, 2, 2).. In the local language Conistorgis probably means "City of the Conii". The city was destroyed by the Lusitanians, during the Lusitanian War against Rome, because the Conii had become allied with the Romans during the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (called Hispania by the Romans). Its precise site has not been rediscovered.

Notes

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References

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• José Mattoso (dir.), História de Portugal. Primeiro Volume: Antes de Portugal, Lisboa, Círculo de Leitores, 1992. (in Portuguese)
• Strabo, Geographika, III, 2, 2.
• Muñoz, Mauricio Pasto: Viriato, A Luta pela Liberdade, Ésquilo, 2003 (third edition; ISBN 9728605234).

See also

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• History of Portugal
• Prehistoric Portugal
• Pre-Roman Portugal
• Timeline of Portuguese history
  • Pre-Roman Western Iberia (Before the 3rd century BC)
  • Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia (3rd century BC to 4th century AD)

External links

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• Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)

Ancient Roman enemies and allies | Ethnic groups in Europe | Tribes of Lusitania

Cónios | conios