Numantine

Numantine is an adjective relating to Numantia, an ancient Celtiberian city in Hispania, located on a hill above the Duero river near present-day Garray in the province of Soria, Spain. It can also refer to a Numantian, or to things connected with the city, including its resistance during the Celtiberian Wars. The Latin form Numantinus is used to describe both people and things associated with Numantia.

Numantia gained renown for its role in the Celtiberian Wars against Rome, particularly during the so-called Numantine War. In the 2nd century BCE, the Numantians resisted Roman forces for several years, culminating in a Roman siege led by Scipio Aemilianus Africanus. In 133 BCE the Romans breached the defenses and destroyed the city; the population was exterminated, enslaved, or dispersed. The fall of Numantia was celebrated in Rome as a victory, but the episode also became a enduring symbol of determined resistance.

Today the site is an important archaeological locality. The Numantia Archaeological Park preserves wall outlines, ramparts, and artefacts recovered from excavations, providing evidence of Celtiberian urban planning and daily life and offering insights into the city's final siege and destruction.

In modern usage, Numantine describes anything pertaining to Numantia or its history, especially in the context of stubborn or heroic resistance, as reflected in historical narratives and literature.