Russadir (Melilla)
Russadir
Phoenician to Modern (7th c BCE–present; peak Punic 5th–3rd c BCE and Roman 1st–3rd c CE)·Phoenician / Punic / Roman / Medieval Spanish·🇪🇸 Melilla (Spanish autonomous city), North Africa, Spain
About
About Russadir (Melilla)
Russadir occupying the rocky promontory of Melilla la Vieja (3 ha citadel) — Phoenician 7th c BCE rock-cut cistern found beneath Puerta de Santiago, then Punic fortlet with Tophet stelae, then Roman municipium under Maurus king Bocchus tribute, with Christian catacombs. Medieval Melilla walls reuse Punic cisterns. National Archaeology Museum holds Russadir amphorae and votive. Controls eastern end of Rif bay, counterpart to Rusuccuru (Al Hoceima). Borehole shows 6 m Punic harbour silt beneath plaza.
Why it mattersEasternmost Phoenician emporium before Al Hoceima, crucial for 7th-c navigation of Atlantic–Mediterranean corridor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Russadir is Hanno periplus colony
- 02Harbour silt vs catacombs relationship
Theories
- 01Russadir as segment of Punic limes before Roman Tingitana (Blázquez)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Phoenician emporium 7th c BCE; Punic fort 5th c BCE; Roman municipium 1st c CE; medieval rebuild 1497
- Period
- Phoenician to Modern (7th c BCE–present; peak Punic 5th–3rd c BCE and Roman 1st–3rd c CE)
- Culture
- Phoenician / Punic / Roman / Medieval Spanish
- Builders
- Phoenicians / Punics / Romans
- Purpose
- Promontory harbour fortress controlling Rif bay and gold-dust passage from Sudan
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Phoenician emporium 7th c BCE; Punic fort 5th c BCE; Roman municipium 1st c CE; medieval rebuild 1497
Initial construction
c. 1312 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
35.2920° N · 2.9380° W · 45 m · 3 mapped features
Phoenician–Punic Cistern
hydraulicRock-cut cistern 12×6 m under Puerta
35.2925° N · 2.9385° WMelilla la Vieja Promontory
fortress3 ha bastioned citadel core
35.2930° N · 2.9370° WPunic Tophet
templeStelae deposit beneath medieval wall
35.2920° N · 2.9390° W