HISPANIA, called Hesperia Ultima, (Horace), because the westmost part of Europe; also Iberia, from the river Iberus. Its name Hispania, or Spania, (Greek),
Hispaniola. (Greek), is of Phœnician original, from its great number of rabbits: the Phœnicians, who settled several colonies on the coast calling it Spanjab from these animals. It has the sea on every side, except on that next to Gaul, from which it is separated by the Pyrenæes. The Romans at first divided it into the Farther and Hither Spain, under two prætors. In that state it continued down to Augustus; who divided the Farther Spain into Bætica, which he left to the people to be governed by a pro consul; and into Lusitania, which he added to his own provinces; calling the Hither Spain Tarracensis. Hispania was a country celebrated for its fertility, of which it has greatly fallen short in modern times. The people were of a war-like turn, (Strabo); and their bodies being formed for hardship and labour, they ever preferred war to peace, and were remarkably prodigal of life (Justin, Sil. Italicus). Spain produced several great men, both in a literary and a political capacity. See SPAIN.