Celsa (Roman city)

Celsa was an important Roman city. Recent excavations have brought to light many rich private and public buildings. It is located near to the modern town of Velilla de Ebro.

History

Celsa was originally an Iberian settlement of the Ilergetes called Kelse, located in the middle reaches of the River Ebro at a privileged position on the natural route from the coast to the peninsular. Its territory amounted to terraces rising from the river and dominating a strategic ford.

From the mid-second century BC to the first half of the first century BC, Kelse coined its own currency with representations of winged victories, Hercules and Venus

Marcus Emilius Lepidus, governor of Nearer Spain, decided to found a colony here in 44 BC, as Colonia Celsa Lepida, the highest rank of Roman city and, with Caesaraugusta, one of the only two colonies in Aragon. The new town occupied an area of about 44 acres and played a key role as communications centre via Tarraco (Tarragona). The colony numbered 4,000 discharged veterans of the legions, who received a plot of land to cultivate and Roman citizenship.

CELSA

CELSA could refer to: