The Cynetes, also called Cynesians or Conii, were a group that lived in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans arrived. They lived in areas that are now part of the Algarve and Lower Alentejo regions in southern Portugal, as well as in the southern part of Badajoz and the northwestern parts of Córdoba and Ciudad Real provinces in Spain. This area was known as the southern part of the Roman province of Lusitania later on. According to Justin's epitome, the mythical kings Gargoris and Habis were believed to be the founders of this group.

Etymology

The name Cynetes (Latin: Conii) likely comes from the Proto-Celtic word *kwon, which means "dog," and is related to the Greek word kyon (κύων), also meaning "dog."

Origins and location

These tribes are often mentioned in ancient writings using many different names, mostly based on Greek or Latin versions of their two main tribal names: “Cynetas”/“Cynetum”; “Kunetes,” “Kunetas,” and “Kunesioi” or “Cuneus,” followed by “Konioi,” “Kouneon,” and “Kouneous”/“Kouneoi.” The Conii lived in most of the area now known as Lower Alentejo, Algarve, the southern part of Badajoz, and the northwestern parts of Córdoba and Ciudad Real provinces during the late Bronze Age. This region was called the Cyneticum before the Romans arrived. Before the Celtic and Turduli people moved into the area between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, the Conii also lived in Upper Alentejo and the Portuguese coastal region of Estremadura, which stretched as far as the Munda (Mondego) river valley.

Genetics

Scientists have proposed that certain groups of genes, called HLA-A25-B18-DR15 and HLA-A26-B38-DR13, which are only found in Portugal, may have originated from the Conii (or Oestrimni), an ancient group of people from the Iberian Peninsula.

Culture

Archaeologists have found evidence of the Conii people in these regions through their complex cremation burial mounds. These mounds, which belonged to the ruling elite, contained valuable items in the graves and inscribed slabs written in the "Tartessian alphabet," also known as the "Southwest script." These artifacts show that the Conii had contact with North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean as early as the 9th century BC. Scholars such as Schulten believe the Conii were a Ligurian tribe, connected to the Ligures of Northwestern Italy and Southeastern France. They argue that the Ligurians were the original people of the Iberian Peninsula. The Conii likely influenced areas in Portugal, Spain, and other regions where the Ligurians settled. They may also be related to the Aquitanians and the Basques.

Inscriptions in the Tartessian language have been discovered in the region, written in a style called Southwest Paleohispanic script. The name "Conii," mentioned by the ancient writer Strabo, appears to be the same as "Cynesii," a group described by Herodotus as the westernmost people of Europe. Herodotus distinguished them from the Celts.

Towns

The capital of the Conii was called Conistorgis, according to Strabo, who believed the region was Celtic. In the local language, Conistorgis likely means "City of the Conii." The exact location of Conistorgis is unknown. Some writers suggest that Pax Julia may have been built on the ruins of Conistorgis.

Other towns (called Oppida) of the Conii included Ipses (Alvor), Cilpe (Cerro da Rocha Branca – Silves), Ossonoba (near Faro; Iberian-type mint: Osunba), Balsa (Quinta da Torre de Aires, Santa Luzia – Tavira), Baesuris (Castro Marim; Iberian-type mint: Baesuri), and Myrtilis (Mértola; Iberian-type mint: Mrtlis Saidie). According to Pomponius Mela, the population of these small towns did not exceed 6,000 people.

A strong group of wealthy leaders from Phoenician and Turdetanian or Turduli settlers controlled trade, fishing, and shipbuilding in these coastal settlements from the 4th century BC until the Carthaginians took over the Cyneticum region. The Carthaginians established Punic colonies named Portus Hannibalis (possibly near Portimão) and Portus Magonis (Portimão) in the late 3rd century BC.

History

The Conii did not play an important role in the Second Punic War or later conflicts, even though they faced pressure from Celtic tribes in the north between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. This pressure may have led them to seek protection from foreign powers like Carthage and later Rome.

Around the 3rd century BC, the Celtici moved to the western Algarve region and created a settlement at Laccobriga (Monte Molião, near Lagos). In 153 BC, during the Lusitanian Wars against Rome, the town of Conistorgis was captured by the Lusitani and their Vettones allies. This forced the Conii to change their loyalty from the Roman Republic to the Lusitani. Between 141-140 BC, they were targeted by Roman military actions led by Consul Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

In 138-137 BC, the region of Cyneticum was added to the province of Hispania Ulterior. Later, during the Sertorian Wars, Quintus Sertorius took control of Conistorgis, and Consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius led attacks against the area in response.

Between 27-13 BC, the Roman-influenced Conii were included by Emperor Augustus into his newly created province of Lusitania.