A HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL READING OF RUSADIR (MELILLA) THROUGH THE WRITINGS OF HISTORIANS AND GEOGRAPHERS

This article examines the ancient city of Rusaddir (historical Melilla) from both historical and geographical perspectives, drawing on classical sources cited by ancient historians and geographers such as Strabo, Ptolemy, Pliny the Elder, and Pomponius Mela, in addition to modern archaeological and geographical studies that have addressed the city. The study focuses on analyzing the citys strategic location on the eastern coast of northern Morocco and its role as a commercial and urban port in antiquity, linking it to broader Mediterranean trade networks. It also reviews the urban, economic, and cultural transformations the city witnessed across different historical periods, highlighting the relevance of classical sources in reconstructing the citys cultural and spatial landscape and in understanding its interactions with its surrounding region. The article concludes that Rusaddir was not merely a coastal settlement with ancient habitation, but rather an important cultural and commercial hub. The writings of ancient geographers and historians provide deeper insights into its spatial development and the economic and political functions it fulfilled in the region. The study further emphasizes the need for integrating archaeological and geographical research with historical analysis to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of the ancient city and its broader environment.