Segóbriga was an important city during the Celtic and Roman times. Today, it is a significant historical site located on a hill called cerro Cabeza de Griego, near the town of Saelices. Studies have uncovered remains of buildings, which are now preserved and displayed in the Archaeological Park. The site was officially declared a National Monument on June 3, 1931. It is currently protected as cultural heritage under the official name Bien de Interés Cultural, which includes strong legal protections.

Although the city is in ruins, its condition is well-preserved compared to other ancient sites in the region. A visit to the site provides insight into daily life in ancient cities.

Toponymy

The name Segóbriga comes from two parts of the Celtiberian language, which is a language that no longer exists. The first part, "Sego-," means victory. This same part appears in the names of other cities, such as Segovia, Segorbe, Segeda, and Segontia. The second part, "-briga," may mean city or fortress. This ending is also found in other place names from the same region, like Juliobriga. The name Segóbriga likely means something similar to "Victory City" or "Triumphant Fortress."

History

In 1888, a burial site from the Bronze Age (around 2000–1000 BC) was discovered in a cave called Cueva de Segóbriga, located near Cerro de Cabeza de Griego. The cave was carved into limestone. The tombs were part of a Celtiberian settlement. This discovery was reported in 1893. Human remains, along with tools and supplies, were found there.

It is believed that the area was once a Celtiberian fortress that controlled the land north of the city. The Cigüela River likely acted as a natural moat for defense. No remains of the fortress have been found, but a ceramic piece from the 5th century BC shows the area was inhabited earlier.

The first written mention of Segóbriga was by Greek geographer Strabo, who noted that Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius fought in the Wars of Sertorius near Bílbilis and Segóbriga. This places Segóbriga in the center of Celtiberian territory. The area, once part of the Olcade tribe, was attacked during these wars and later replaced by the Roman city of Segóbriga.

Ancient texts from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC describe the people living near the Cuenca mountains as the Olcades, those near La Alcarria and Guadalajara as the Lusones, and those near Toledo as the Carpetani. This means the people of Segóbriga were likely Olcades or Carpetani. Nearby, 7 km away, is Villas Viejas, an archaeological site linked to the Contrebia Carbica, a Carpetani city.

In the first century AD, Sextus Julius Frontinus wrote about Segóbriga. He described an attack by the Lusitanian leader Viriathus against Segóbriga in 146 BC, when the city was allied with Rome:
1) "Viriathus hid his soldiers, sent a few to steal cattle from the Segobrigenses, and the people chased them, fleeing in fear."
2) "Viriathus turned back and surprised the Segobrigenses, who were busy with a religious ceremony."

Pliny the Elder wrote about the mining of lapis specularis, a type of translucent gypsum used for making window glass. This material was mined in "100,000 places around Segóbriga," and Pliny noted that "the most translucent stone is found near Segóbriga, taken from deep wells." A nearby village, Carrascosa del Campo, had a mining and manufacturing area connected to this activity.

Pliny also mentioned that Segóbriga was part of the Caesaraugustan Conventus, a Roman administrative region. He called Segóbriga "caput Celtiberiae" (the head of Celtiberia), suggesting it was the boundary between the Celtiberians and Carpetani. Segóbriga was a city that paid taxes to Rome but later became a municipium, a city ruled by Roman citizens, which raised its status and led to economic growth and construction projects, including public buildings and a wall.

After the Roman conquest in the early 2nd century BC, Segóbriga became an oppidum, a Celtiberian city. Following the Wars of Sertorius (80–72 BC), it became a major center in the Meseta Central region, controlling a large area.

During the time of Augustus (around 12 BC), Segóbriga stopped paying taxes and became a municipium, leading to its economic boom and the building of monuments, which continued until the Flavian era (around 80 AD). The city was a key communication hub, produced its own currency, and built parts of its wall. By the end of Vespasian’s rule, Segóbriga had completed its theater and amphitheater and was fully integrated into the Roman Empire.

Archaeological evidence shows that important elites lived in Segóbriga during the 3rd century, but by the 4th century, they had abandoned major monuments, showing the city’s decline and its shift to a rural area.

During the Visigoth period (starting in the 5th century), Segóbriga remained important, with remains of basilicas and a large burial site found. Its bishops attended the Third Council of Toledo in 589 and the Sixteenth Council of Toledo in 693.

Segóbriga’s decline continued after the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Its leaders and bishops fled north to Christian kingdoms, as seen in nearby Ercavica. Muslim fortifications were built on the hill.

After the Reconquista, people moved to the modern town of Saelices, 3 km north, near a fountain that once supplied Segóbriga. The hill where Segóbriga once stood was called "Cabeza del Griego" and later became a small rural area connected to Uclés, 10 km away. Stones from Segóbriga’s ruins were used to build a convent-fortress in Uclés.

Over time, Segóbriga was gradually abandoned. Today, only a small hermitage built on the ancient Monumental Baths remains, serving as the last sign of the ancient city.

Conservation

The Archaeological Park of Segóbriga is at risk because of a planned wind farm near the area, built by the company Energías Eólicas de Cuenca. The land will be changed by the installation of 14 wind turbines, each 121 meters tall, which will also affect the Historic Site of Uclés. Because of this, the Segóbriga Archaeological Park and the Historic Site of Uclés have been added to the Red List of Endangered Heritage by the organization Hispania Nostra.