century, when the remains of the amphitheatre, the only portion of
the ruins which were visible, drew the attention of travellers: and the
authorities of Seville received orders to commence excavating. The
search yielded a large quantity of valuable remains; a temple was
discovered, in the neighbourhood of which were found several statues and
capitals of columns. A choice was made of the objects in the best state
of preservation, which were forwarded to Madrid in order to form a
museum. Large quantities of coins were also sent, and collections of
household utensils, and ornaments. The Arabs, who did not consider these
Roman relics worthy objects of antiquarian research, nevertheless had
either discovered and laid open a large portion of the town, or were
themselves its destroyers. From it they extracted the large quantities
of marble columns and slabs with which Seville is filled. The mutilated
statues, together with several funereal monuments, found in later times,
and not considered deserving of the journey to Madrid, have been
deposited in a large room in the Alcazar of Seville, where they are now
exhibited.

No record exists of the foundation of Italica. Its annals are traced to
the time of Scipio Africanus, who, on the completion of his conquest of
Spain, and the final expulsion of the Carthaginians, finding himself
embarrassed by the number of wounded and sick among his troops,
established them in this town under the protection of a garrison. He
gave to the town its name of Italica,[12] its previous name being
Sancius: the real situation of Italica has been the subject of much
controversy. Like the Grecian cities, which claimed each to be the
birthplace of Homer, several of the towns in the neighbourhood of
Seville are candidates for the honour of being representatives of the
ancient Italica; but ample proof exists of the identity of these ruins
with that city.[13] The Historia general, written by Alonso el Sabio,
book 1., chap, XV., speaks of Italica as a place of much importance in
ancient times, in allusion to the invasion of a people called the
Almunizes. He adds, in the antiquated Spanish of his time, "Las nuevas
fueron por todas las tierras de como aquellas gentes avian ganado a
Espana, e todos los de las islas quel oyeron crecieron les corazones por
fazer otro tal, e ayuntaron muy grandes navios, e vinieronse para
Espana, e entraron por cuatro partes. Los que entraron por Cadiz
vinieron Guadalquibir arriba