The Jews in Córdoba

One must go back to very early times to begin speaking about the first Jews who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. Historians say the first ones arrived around the 10th century B.C. aboard Phoenician ships headed to Tharsis (Tartessos), located at the mouth of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, a place where copper was abundant.

Some of the ships from this expedition made their way to the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, sailing upstream to the current location of the city, where the Iberian-Turdetani people lived at the time. It is believed that the Jews remained in the area while the Phoenician expedition returned to its destination. When Claudius Marcellus founded Roman Cordoba, next to the Iberian-Turdetani settlement, the Jews had already been established here for a long time.

The Jewish community in Roman times

The Hebrew population grew little by little, increasing significantly after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple at the hands of Titus and his troops around the year 70. It is also important to consider the harsh repression in Judea imposed by Hadrian, which led to even more emigration to other regions, such as Cordoba.

During Roman occupation, Jews were free to practice their religion, even being exempt from duties that conflicted with the exercise of their faith, such as the Emperor worship rites. In other words, it could be said that the Jewish people were somehow protected by the Roman State. The Jews, on the other hand, were divided into communities, which governed themselves and even had their own jurisdiction.

From the Visigoths to the Muslim arrival

This period of peace under Roman rule was disrupted by the invasion of northern peoples, notably the Visigoths. The early years of the 7th century were difficult, with edicts of expulsion being issued for those who did not accept Christianity. However, the figure of Saint Isidore of Seville emerged, who, at the Fourth Council of Toledo in the year 633, prohibited the use of violent measures to force Jews to convert to Christianity.

The problem with oppressive measures is that, sooner or later, they backfire on the oppressor—at least in most cases—and that is what happened, as the Jews even viewed the Muslim invasion of the peninsula favorably and even aided them. The Muslims allowed them to practice their religion and even engage in trade, so many settled in the marketplaces, others went into finance, and some were tasked with supplying the Great Market of Cordoba. They held important positions in the society of the time, such as managing the Public Treasury’s revenues or even significant roles in the Umayyad Court. The Jews of Muslim Spain adopted the Arabic language alongside the Romance language, which they used to express themselves.

The Jewish Quarter in Muslim times

The Jewish Quarter during Muslim times was located outside the city walls, to the north, occupying what is now the Campo de la Merced and part of the Santa Marina neighborhood. During the Umayyad Caliphate it experienced great prosperity due to the continuous arrival of merchants, mostly from the Middle East. This Jewish Quarter was destroyed by the Almohads in 1148 when they took the city.

The Jewish Quarter after the Christian conquest

After the arrival of Ferdinand III the Saint in 1236, and until their expulsion decreed by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the Jews occupied the area between Calle del Arquillo, the Umayyad Alcazar, and the eastern wall of the Medina—what we know today as the Jewish Quarter, which has been preserved in some form. Its streets were narrow and winding, with one- or two-story houses arranged around a square, with their own Synagogue, a market, and even a cemetery.

Visiting the Synagogue of Cordoba

If you are unsure what to do in Cordoba, we recommend visiting the Synagogue by booking one of our guided tours. Choose to enjoy high-quality tourism with qualified staff—don’t hesitate, ArtenCórdoba is the best option.

Text: J.A.S.C.