Ancient Greeks observed that Iberian warriors received special burial monuments in their native land and culture. For full disclosure, the ancient Greek sources (such as Aristotle (c. 384-322 BCE)) could be vague about which Iberian peoples—Spanish or Anatolian—they were addressing. In this case, however, comments on the burial monuments were likely in reference to the Iberian Peninsula. The Greek observers noticed that the monuments were individually unique, with each buried warrior receiving varying numbers of spike-like objects adorning their resting place. The nature of these spikes remains debated, with some suggesting they were spears, while others argue they were stelae or small pointed stones, and the objects also, in a more literal sense, could have been actual spikes or large nails. Whatever the case, some buried warriors received more of these objects, while others had less. After some investigation, ancient Greek inquirers concluded that the spikes represented the number of foes that the buried warrior slew in battle. This observation and conclusion was recorded by the ancient philosopher and scholar, Aristotle, who wrote, “Among the Iberians, a warlike race, the tombs of their warriors have little spikes around them showing the number of enemy slain” (Aristotle, The Politics, Bekker page 1324b). Curiously, archeological investigations into the ancient inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula have, indeed, resulted in evidence that the Iberians made use of spears, nails, and other spiked/pointed objects in their ancient burial practices. Aristotle approved of these burial monuments, believing that the gesture incentivized a battle-ready society and honored warriors who put their lives on the line for the interests of their people.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Picture Attribution: (Assortment of Iberian items, labeled Cigarralejo003, photographed by Extrema dorii, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons and Wikimedia Commons).
Sources:
- The Politics by Aristotle, translated by T. A. Sinclair and revised by T. J. Saunders. London: Penguin Classics, 1962, 1992.
- https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058%3Abook%3D7%3Asection%3D1324b#note1
- https://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/the-history-of-the-iberians
- https://www.academia.edu/1183882/_Spears_stuck_by_the_grave_Aristotle_and_Aragonese_Iberian_Stelae_in_Spanish_Lanzas_hincadas_Arist%C3%B3teles_y_las_estelas_del_Bajo_Arag%C3%B3n_#:~:text=Aristotle%20mentions%20(Pol.%201324b)%20that%20the%20warlike,spearheads%20stuck%20vertically%20in%20Iberian%20Iron%20Age.
