SPAIN - The country to which the name Spain or Hispania was given by the Romans, but which Greek writers called Iberia (country of the River Ebro); Paul shows Roman influence in using the Roman name of the region. The name Hispania really originated in the city of Hispalis (Seville). From that territory it was extended to cover the whole country now known as Spain. In the earliest times of which we have any knowledge it was inhabited, at least in part, by a race supposed to be a mixture of the aboriginal Iberian population with immigrant Celts. In 236 BC, Hamilcar, father of the great Hannibal, invaded the country from Carthage, and after nine years of conquest was succeeded by his son-in-law Hasdrubal, who in turn was succeeded by Hannibal, under whom about 219 BC the conquest of the country was practically completed. Hannibal used it as his base in the Second Punic War against Rome. The Romans first invaded Spain in 218 BC, and after various successes and reverses constituted two provinces there in 197 BC, known for centuries afterwards as Hispania Citerior (Tarraconensis) and Hispania Ulterior (Baetica), separated from one another by the Ebro. The mountainous districts in the NW. were not actually subdued till the time of the Emperor Augustus (20 BC). The country was valued for its agricultural products as well as its precious metals. Much of Rome's power and wealth came from the control of this rich land. Vast numbers of enslaved Greeks had been sent to Spain, and it must have been they who attracted Paul to the area, for his mission was to Greeks. In Rome he only proposed to stay for a brief visit with Greek-speaking Christians (Ro.15.24, 29) while en route to Spain. It is not known whether he carried out his plan. Spain claims more honoured names in Roman literature than any other country in the 1st cent. AD, having been the birthplace of the two Senecas, Columella, Mela, Lucan, Martial, and Quintilian. [Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963. - A.So. - E.G.K.]