He March 17, 180 DC The one who is considered one of the great emperors of the Roman Empire died, Marco Aurelio in the context of fighting the Germanic peoples in the front of the Danube. At present, it is still the most popular thanks to being also one of the referents of stoicism, a philosophy that has become fashionable in recent years, but what few know is that this historical character had roots in a territory near a town in Córdoba.
From Ucubi to Espejo: The family origin of Emperor Marco Aurelio
36 kilometers from the city of Córdoba is the town of Espejo, 420 meters high and with approximately 3,000 inhabitants. His strategic location, however, have made him a leading town of the story at different times. In fact, in his vicinity there was the settlement of Ucubi, who first was Ibero-Turdetana and then Roman, and where the grandfather of which he would be Emperor of Rome, Marco Aurelio, was born.
Ucubi became Roman colony under the name of Claritas Iulia Ucubi In the 45 AC by order of the own Julio Césarand from there came the paternal family, and therefore the origins of Emperor Marco Aurelio. Marco Annio Veroas the grandfather of what would be one of the great leaders of the Roman Empire, he moved to Rome and there would be a protagonist of an intense political life, being three times consul, and who would also mark the future of his family, which would settle in the capital.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, UCUBI It would end up evolving, and the settlement would be called Alkalat Under Visigoth domain, but it would be depopulated, although the future town of Espejo would develop from that area.
Civil War Enclave: The place of the photo ‘Death of a militiaman’
But the mirror story is not only linked to the Roman era, but it was also the scene of one of the most iconic images of the twentieth century war. And it was in the surroundings of the town where the photo ‘death of a militia’ of Robert Capaconsidered one of the best war photographs and exponent of photojournalism.
For a long time it was thought that the photo had been taken on the Murian hill of the Cordoba capital, but thanks to the research of the archaeologist and writer Fernando Penco The conclusion that was in a place known as the Loma de lasosillas In the town of Espejo, where in 2021 a commemorative statue was inaugurated.
Although the unknown has been cleared about the place where the photo took place, there are still mysteries to solve this image, on which a consensus has been reached that was a photomontage to simulate that it had been in full battle, without it being so. But what is not clear if the photograph was taken by Endre Erno Friedmann or by Gerda Tarobecause both sent their negatives under the envelope with the name of Robert Capa forming both a sentimental and professional couple.
So, Mirror It is an enclave that is increasing Ducal Castle of the thirteenth century or the Church of San Bartoloméof the fifteenth century.
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